Tag: Humanitarian aid

More than two million children displaced by Sudan war: UNICEF — Global Issues

Fighting between the Sudanese Army and military rival the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April, has displaced 1.7 million children within the country while more than 470,000 have fled across the border to safety.

Urgent response needed

Given these numbers, and that countless more children are trapped by the violence,

“the urgency of our collective response cannot be overstated,” said Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF Country Representative in Sudan.

“We are hearing unimaginable stories from children and families, some of whom lost everything and had to watch their loved ones die in front of their eyes. We said it before, and we are saying it again: we need peace now for children to survive,” she added.

UNICEF continues to call on the warring parties to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children, ensure their protection, and enable unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas.

Fighting hinders aid delivery

The agency recently warned that currently, 14 million children in Sudan are in dire need of humanitarian support, noting that many of these boys and girls are facing multiple threats and terrifying experiences every day.

Apart from conflict hotspots like Darfur and the capital, Khartoum, the heavy fighting has now spread to other populated areas, including in South and West Kordofan states, which is hampering aid delivery and access to people in urgent need.

Humanitarians have estimated that 20.3 million people in Sudan will be food insecure between July and September, based on the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report for the country. As a result, the health and nutrition status of close to 10 million children is expected to worsen.

Threat of outbreaks

UNICEF added that with the beginning of the rainy season, many houses have been destroyed by floods, displacing growing numbers of families. Moreover, the rainy period raises the risk of disease outbreaks such as cholera, dengue, Rift Valley fever, and chikungunya.

Currently, nearly 9.5 million children in Sudan lack access to safe drinking water, and 3.4 million under-fives are at high risk of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera.

Meanwhile, violence continues to hamper the delivery of health and nutrition services, putting millions of young lives at risk.

Healthcare under attack

In Khartoum and the Darfur and Kordofan regions, fewer than one-third of health facilities are fully functional, UNICEF said. Insecurity and displacement are also preventing patients and health workers from reaching hospitals, with many facilities reportedly beingattacked and destroyed.

Health systems in Sudan’s 11 other states are overwhelmed as the displaced masses move to these less-affected areas. All states in the country are reporting severe shortages of medicines and supplies, including life-saving items, according to UNICEF sources.

A ‘lethal combination’

Disease outbreaks, including measles, are resurfacing, with reported associated deaths, in areas facing high internal displacement and stretched health systems, such as the Blue and White Nile states.

The “lethal combination” of measles and malnutrition is putting young lives at a very high risk unless urgent action is taken, UNICEF said.

The UN agency is urgently seeking $400 million over the next 100 days to scale up support in Sudan.

Staff have been providing education, protection, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services to over four million children, mothers, and families across the country since the war broke out.

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Top UN aid official in Ukraine deplores latest wave of ‘massive Russian attacks’ — Global Issues

Denise Brown issued a statement deploring this “new wave of massive Russian attacks”, and appealed for the violence to end.

“Grain storage facilities, vital for the Ukrainian farmers and global food security, have been hit in the Danube area,” she said. “A school in the Sumy region was damaged, and teachers were killed and injured.”

International media reported that a drone fired by Russia hit the school on Wednesday morning, citing Ukraine’s interior minister. The incident occurred in the city of Romny, located in the northeast.

End ‘brutal’ attacks

Four people – the school director, deputy director, secretary and a librarian – were killed and four residents, who were passing by at the time, were injured.

Ms. Brown added that on Tuesday, civilians in the Kherson region “endured some horrifying hours of relentless strikes that damaged a hospital”.

The attacks forced aid organizations to suspend vital assistance and take shelter in the middle of the day.

“I have repeatedly expressed alarm about this brutal pattern of civilian harm due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This must stop, and international humanitarian law must be respected,” she said.

Wide-reaching consequences

The overnight strike in the Danube region damaged a grain storage facility and a trans-shipment complex.

Since 11 July, Russia has carried out 14 attacks against Ukraine’s grain infrastructure, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).

Grain terminals, warehouses and port infrastructure have been hit, along with industrial equipment and administrative buildings. The strikes have also disrupted Ukraine’s global food supply lines.

The UN body warned of the far-reaching human rights consequences of the repeated attacks, and has verified the deaths of four civilians and the injury of 43 others overall.

“These attacks cause not only immeasurable human suffering and loss for families, but also have a broader impact on livelihoods, farmers, communities and businesses in Ukraine and beyond,” said Danielle Bell, the HRMMU chief.

Impact on food prices

Earlier this month, the UN said that Russian attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure are not isolated and are affecting global food prices following the collapse of the Black Sea Initiative on grain and fertilizer exports.

Russia pulled out of the landmark agreement in July, effectively ending it after roughly a year in operation.

The Black Sea Initiative allowed for more than 32 million tons of grain to be shipped from three designated Ukrainian ports. It was signed by Russia, Ukraine, Türkiye and the UN in July 2022.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the historic deal “a beacon of hope – a beacon of possibility – a beacon of relief — in a world that needs it more than ever.”

The Black Sea Initiative was agreed alongside a parallel accord between the UN and Moscow on Russian grain and fertilizer exports.

The two agreements helped to drive down spiralling global food prices and stabilize markets.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) shipped over 725,000 tons alone to support its work in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen – regions hard hit by hunger.

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UN Special Envoy — Global Issues

“It is deeply troubling that, for over a year, the intra-Syrian political process has been in deep freeze,” he said, speaking via videoconference. “A political process is the right of the Syrian people they are entitled to chart their own destiny.”

Mr. Pedersen said Syrians both inside and outside the country continue to suffer severely from the conflict, now in its 12th year, “and the absence of a genuine political process is deeply detrimental to their well-being.”

Collapsing economy, rising prices

He pointed to the further collapse of the Syrian economy as one indicator of this immense suffering. Last week, the Syrian pound hit an all-time low of 15,500 to the United States dollar, compared with 47 pounds to the dollar in 2011.

Prices for food, medicine, fuel and other essential goods are “spiralling out of control”, he added, and many families are struggling to get enough to eat.

Meanwhile, Syria also continues to confront challenges in areas such as displacement, detentions, human rights abuses and terrorism, in addition to the de facto division of the country, which is undermining its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Suffering will worsen

“The tragic reality is that, for as long as violent conflict continues, and the political process is blocked, the suffering of the Syrian people will simply get worse. Syria cannot fix its economy while it is in a state of conflict. And this applies to the many other crises that ravage Syria,” he said.

He stressed that moving towards implementing Security Council resolution 2254 is the only way to begin addressing the many crises afflicting Syria.

The 2015 resolution endorsed a road map for a peace process and set timetables for UN-facilitated talks between the Government and the opposition, and a nationwide ceasefire.

Aid access welcomed

Turning to humanitarian developments, Mr. Pedersen welcomed the recent decision to re-open the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Türkiye, allowing aid to reach millions in northwest Syria – the last opposition stronghold – for another six months.

He also hailed the extension of authorization for the UN to use two other crossings, Bab al-Salam and Al- Ra’ee, for an additional three months, which were opened following the devastating earthquakes that struck the two countries in February.

Syria also consented for humanitarians to cross the lines within the country at two northwestern cities, Sarmada and Saraqib, for aid delivery over the next six months.

Humanitarian funding shortfall

“It is indeed essential that the UN and its partners continue providing cross-border humanitarian assistance, at the necessary scale and in a principled manner that allows engagement with all parties, for the purposes of seeking humanitarian access, and in a manner that safeguards the UN’s operational independence,” he said.

The Special Envoy also called for increased support for humanitarian operations in Syria. A $5.4 billion plan for operations this year is only around 25 per cent funded, while another to support Syrian refugees in the region is only 10 per cent funded.

In concluding his remarks, Mr. Pedersen reiterated the need for a political process, adding that everyone is paying a heavy price for the conflict, though mostly the Syrian people.

“As international attention and funding for Syria wane, the situation will become ever more unsustainable,” he warned. “The only path out of this is a political process that involves the Syrian parties themselves, in line with resolution 2254.”

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Protecting humanitarians 20 years after deadly Baghdad attack, amid rising risks — Global Issues

The wreath-laying ceremony at the UN in New York was held on the eve of World Humanitarian Day, commemorated annually on 19 August.

This marks the day in 2003 when a suicide bomber detonated a truck full of explosives outside the UN headquarters at the Canal Hotel in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

A change in operations

Among the staff who lost their lives was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of its mission in the country.

More than 150 people were injured in the attack, mainly local and international aid workers helping reconstruct the country following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

“That tragedy marked a change in the way humanitarians operate,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for World Humanitarian Day, established five years after the attack.

He noted that although humanitarians are respected around the world, they may also be targeted by people seeking to harm them.

Crises and risks multiply

This year, the UN and partners are aiming to reach 250 million people worldwide affected by conflict and other crises, or 10 times more than at the time of the Canal Hotel bombing, and amid a shortfall in humanitarian funding.

“As crises multiply, it is unacceptable that humanitarians are being forced to reduce aid to millions of people in need,” the Secretary-General said.

The risks that humanitarians face have also multiplied, he added, citing rising geopolitical tensions, blatant disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, deliberate assault and disinformation campaigns.

Protecting humanitarians worldwide

Last year, 444 aid workers fell victim to violence in 235 separate attacks. Of that number, 116 were killed, 143 injured and 185 kidnapped. Most were national staff working with non-governmental organizations.

“World Humanitarian Day and the Canal Hotel bombing will always be an occasion of mixed and still raw emotions for me and many others,” the UN’s humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, said earlier this week.

Mr. Griffiths and the UN’s head of Safety and Security, Gilles Michaud, have published an op-ed that calls for “protecting the people who protect the world”.

They said the Canal Hotel bombing “triggered an urgent review of the UN’s security arrangements”.

An independent panel, established in the wake of the tragedy, recognized the need for new approaches that would ensure “an acceptable balance between operational objectives and staff security in high-risk environments,” they recalled.

“The Panel recommended investment in a new, adequately financed UN security management system with the highest levels of professionalism, expertise, and accountability at its core,” they added.

“As a result, in 2005, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, or UNDSS, was created, mandated to lead a collective approach to UN security.”

© UNOCHA/Matteo Minasi

Not a target

The UN officials highlighted the need for humanitarians to be able to safely access affected populations, saying that “security approaches must listen to and be attuned to local dynamics and sensitivities.”

They called for greater international support, including to educate warring parties on their obligations to respect, protect and provide support to aid workers.

“It means demanding, clearly and unequivocally, an end to direct or indiscriminate attacks on civilians, non-combatants, and humanitarian workers during conflicts in breach of international humanitarian law,” they said.

“And it requires us to challenge the disinformation and misinformation that are increasingly putting them at risk of attack and undermining humanitarian operations.”

Honouring fallen colleagues

The op-ed also underscored the need to continue high-level diplomacy that supports humanitarian operations and access, especially in heavy conflict, as “recent experience shows that genuine agreements are possible, even when peace seems a distant possibility”.

One example was the evacuation of hundreds of civilians from the Azovstal Steel Plant in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol last year.

The development was the result of a negotiated pause in the fighting to create a humanitarian corridor for a joint mission by the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“As we reflect on the gains of the past 20 years and how we can build on them to address the challenges of the next 20, we remain resolute in our determination to protect the communities we serve, while also protecting our staff,” the officials said.

“This is how we can best honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the Canal Hotel bombing and reaffirm our joint commitment to the noble cause they served.”

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Children facing worst cholera outbreak in six years — Global Issues

Across the country, there have been at least 31,342 suspected or confirmed cholera cases and 230 deaths in the first seven months of 2023 – many of them children.

The worst affected province, North Kivu, has seen more than 21,400 confirmed or suspected cases, including more than 8,000 children under five, according to the Ministry of Public Health. This compares to 5,120 total cases in all of 2022, with 1,200 of them children under five.

“The size of the cholera outbreak and the devastation it threatens should ring alarm bells,” said Shameza Abdulla, UNICEF DRC Senior Emergency Coordinator, based in Goma.

“If urgent action is not taken within the next months, there is a significant risk that the disease will spread to parts of the country that have not been affected for many years.”

Urgent aid for displaced

The DRC, which shoulders the worst displacement crisis in Africa, is among the worst globally, with more than 6.3 million displaced people across the country. Displacement camps are generally overcrowded and overstretched, making them ripe for cholera transmission.

“There is also the danger it will continue to spread in displacement sites where systems are already overwhelmed and the population especially children, is highly vulnerable to illness and, potentially, death. Displaced families have already been through so much”, added Ms. Abdulla.

UNICEF is calling for $62.5 million to scale up its prevention and response activities to the cholera and sanitation crisis over the next five months.

The agency aims to reach 1.8 million people, including one million children, with safe water, hygiene kits, latrines, medical supplies, and child-friendly cholera care. Currently, the appeal is just nine per cent funded.

© UNICEF/Ndebo

Toilets installed by UNICEF and its partners in the Bulengo camp, west of the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

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UN and partners providing aid for vulnerable across Ethiopia as 1.2 million children suffer acute malnutrition — Global Issues

The country was deeply impacted by a brutal conflict which began in 2020 across the north between Ethiopian Government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), although a peace deal between the sides was brokered by the African Union, ending the fighting last November.

Briefing journalists at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that humanitarians were providing medical supplies, logistics support and boosting communications efforts in response to a cholera outbreak in Oromia, Sidama, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region, as well as Somali regions.

Cholera and malaria response

“According to national authorities, more than 16,800 cases of cholera have been reported, including 212 related deaths, as of 2 August”, he said.

“We are also providing medical supplies for the response to malaria which, as of 30 July, has impacted over 1.7 million people and claimed 200 lives.”

He said more than 30 UN agencies and international and national NGOs were working hard to combat the effects of malnutrition which remains a concern in several regions including Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, South West and Tigray.

In June and July, more than 26,000 mothers and children received nutrition support in Amhara and Southern Oromia, Mr. Dujarric continued, with humanitarian colleagues providing cash transfers to more than 310,000 people in Somali region, while more than 850,000 men, women and children in drought-affected regions have also received cash support.

Timely measures

“Our humanitarian colleagues noted that timely food assistance, prepositioning of emergency drugs, and medical supplies for impacted people are necessary”, the UN Spokesperson said. “More than 1.2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition across Ethiopia.”

He reminded that the $4 billion humanitarian appeal for 2023 for Ethiopia, is only 27 per cent funded.

“The food sector has received less than 25 per cent of the $2.2 billion required.”

Around four months ago, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said it had no choice but to suspend food aid to Ethiopia, following widespread thefts and diversions of critical aid, inside the country.

According to news reports, the agency has now begun to distribute some food supplies to a limited number of districts in the Tigray region, to test new enhanced controls and measures for delivering food assistance.

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UN rights chief calls for immediate restoration of constitutional order in Niger — Global Issues

The UN rights chief expressed grave concerns for the people of Niger. “The people have already been through so much hardship over the years. Now, the very people who they elected to build a pathway to end their destitution have been removed by force,” he said.

The message comes as the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) called for a humanitarian corridor out of Niger to be established urgently, for stranded migrants.

Vaccines stranded: UNICEF

This call was echoed by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative on the ground, Stefano Savi, in an interview with UN News.

He called for a reopening of the border so that humanitarian supplies and more urgently needed humanitarian staff could be admitted to meet rising needs.

He said it was imperative to allow in vaccines stranded at humanitarian hubs.

“We have the vaccines just awaiting the reopening of the airspace. You know, those vaccines are essential to carry out vaccine campaigns.”

In the first half of 2023, more than 60,000 migrants travelled through Niger. IOM said that recent border and airspace closures have led to overcrowding in its centres, where thousands of migrants are hosted as many wait to return home.

According to the Organization, in 10 days, departures for over 1,000 migrants, primarily from Mali and the Republic of Guinea, were cancelled or postponed. Meanwhile, around 1,800 migrants are awaiting assistance outside IOM transit centres, which host around 5,000 people at seven transit point strategically positioned along migration routes.

Chronic food insecurity

From the UN human rights office, OHCHR, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani noted that Niger was one of the poorest countries in the world, with nearly half of the population living on less than $2.15 a day and millions reliant on humanitarian assistance.

She deplored that the country’s people have been forced to endure “even more misery” following the attempted coup, which has triggered border closures, trade interruptions and a surge in food prices.

Even before President Mohamed Bazoum was seized by some of his guards in the 26 July power grab, over three million people were chronically food insecure, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and close to half of all children under five were suffering from chronic malnutrition.

The OHCHR spokesperson reiterated Mr. Türk’s call for “full and free access for humanitarian assistance” to allow “critical food, medical and other relief supplies into the country”.

Freedom at stake

Ms. Shamdasani added that there had been a “very worrying” clampdown on civic space in Niger, which was impacting freedom of expression and public assembly. This included allegations of intimidation against journalists and bans on international media outlets.

She also noted that recently there has been a “deeply troubling” pattern of unconstitutional changes in government by military forces across West Africa – the Niger putsch being the sixth in the region in the past three years.

In his statement, Mr. Türk also raised concerns about the announced decision by Niger’s military leaders to prosecute President Bazoum and others working with him for high treason.

“This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected President but has no legal basis as the normal functioning of democratic institutions have been cast aside,” he said.

“The very notion of freedoms in Niger is at stake,” the High Commissioner continued, insisting that generals “cannot take it upon themselves to defy – at a whim – the will of the people. Rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”

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World Humanitarian Day highlights commitment to serve #NoMatterWhat — Global Issues

The grim forecast comes ahead of World Humanitarian Day, commemorated annually on 19 August.

Since the start of the year, 62 aid workers have been killed, 84 have been wounded and 34 kidnapped, the UN said, citing provisional data from the independent research organization Humanitarian Outcomes. Last year, the death toll reached 116.

Under attack

South Sudan remains the most dangerous place to be a humanitarian. Forty attacks and 22 fatalities have been reported there as of 16 August.

Sudan is a close second, with 17 attacks and 19 fatalities to date, surpassing numbers not seen since the height of the Darfur conflict between 2006 and 2009.

Other aid worker casualties have been recorded in the Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia and Ukraine. Last year, 444 aid workers were attacked while 460 were attacked in 2021, resulting in 141 deaths.

A sombre anniversary

This year’s commemoration of World Humanitarian Day also marks 20 years since the suicide bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

Twenty-two staff were killed in the attack, among them Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of the UN Mission in the country. More than 150 local and international aid workers were injured.

“World Humanitarian Day and the Canal Hotel bombing will always be an occasion of mixed and still raw emotions for me and many others,” said the UN’s humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths.

“Every year, nearly six times more aid workers are killed in the line of duty than were killed on that dark day in Baghdad, and they are overwhelmingly local aid workers. Impunity for these crimes is a scar on our collective conscience,” he added.

#NoMatterWhat campaign

The UN and its humanitarian partners aim to help almost 250 million people in crises around the world this year, or 10 times more than in 2003.

Efforts have grown but so have the dangers they face, including rising geopolitical tensions, blatant disregard of international humanitarian law, deliberate attacks and widespread disinformation.

Through the #NoMatterWhat campaign, humanitarians are underlining their commitment to deliver aid despite the challenges.

The campaign highlights how they will continue to support communities in need – no matter who, no matter where, and #NoMatterWhat.

It is being organized by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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Warring parties must take concrete steps towards an inclusive peace — Global Issues

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg provided an update on his mediation efforts, both in the country and abroad, while Edem Wosornu of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, reported on access impediments and funding gaps affecting aid delivery to millions.

Yemen continues to face a protracted political, humanitarian and developmental crisis after more than eight years of fighting between pro-Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels.

An initial two-month truce signed in April 2022 expired that October after two extensions.

Translate willingness into action

Mr. Grundberg has continued engagements with the parties and with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

“The sides continue to display general willingness to seek solutions, but this still needs to translate into concrete steps, in particular, a clear agreement on the way forward that includes restarting an inclusive Yemeni political process,” he said.

He added that hostilities have not returned to pre-truce levels despite its expiration, and civilian casualties have significantly declined. However, sporadic fighting and exchanges of gunfire continue on some fronts, particularly in the governorates of Taiz, Marib, Dhale, Hodeida, Shabwa, and Sa’ada.

“Against this backdrop, there have been public threats to return to war. This rhetoric is not conducive to maintaining a fruitful mediation environment.” he said, calling for restraint and dialogue.

Economic woes, power cuts

The envoy also addressed the dire economic situation in Yemen, where the warring parties “continue to resort to antagonistic economic measures” which are hurting civilians and fuelling mistrust.

He said the Yemeni Government is still being prevented from exporting petroleum products, its main revenue source, while trade remains curtailed due to restrictions, exorbitant fees and taxes.

Meanwhile, provision of basic services is deteriorating, with citizens facing electricity cuts lasting up to 18 hours in the summer heat. He welcomed a $1.2 billion Saudi pledge which will help to keep the power on and pay some public salaries.

‘Fertile grounds’ for violent extremism

Mr. Grundberg warned that “political and economic instability are fertile grounds for violent extremist groups.”

He expressed concern over reports of the recent increase in activities of violent extremists in Abyan and Shabwa governorates, saying “this is yet another reminder of the consequences of the long-term absence of a political settlement to the conflict.”

The UN envoy appealed for the continued unity and support of the Security Council and the international community for his mediation efforts.

“The fragility of the situation and its impact on Yemeni women and men highlight the urgent need to reach a consensus on the way forward,” he said.

“My Office is working to convene the parties to address some of their immediate priorities to build confidence and move toward an inclusive and sustainable political settlement.”

Aid access and funding

On the humanitarian front, both officials condemned the murder of World Food Programme (WFP) staff member Moayad Hameidi in Taiz governorate on 21 July.

“This attack, and others like it, show just how real the threats to the safety and security of aid workers are – from violence to kidnapping, harassment, misinformation and disinformation,” said Ms. Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy.

She added that access and funding are two of the most pressing issues facing humanitarians in Yemen, amid rising misinformation and disinformation. As a result, operations are becoming even more difficult and dangerous.

“Aid workers continue to experience attempted interference in all stages of humanitarian activities, as well as extensive movement restrictions—which particularly impact our women national staff and all those they serve,” she said.

The UN and partners are aiming to reach more than 17 million people across Yemen this year. However, a $4.3 billion plan is only around 30 per cent funded, and she urged greater support from the international community.

Ms. Wosornu stressed that while a political resolution to the conflict is vital, it alone will not solve the humanitarian crisis.

“Only when such progress is pursued together with improved economic conditions and the re-establishment of essential services will we see humanitarian needs begin to decrease,” she said.

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WFP calls for free flow of aid amid ongoing crisis — Global Issues

President Mohamed Bazoum remains in detention and the military junta that has in effect seized power said on Monday it plans to prosecute the elected leader for alleged “high treason”, according to media reports.

He was seized by members of his own guard on 26 July.

Vital work

WFP’s Acting Regional Director for Western Africa, Margot Van der Velden, said in a statement that “our work is vital for the most vulnerable of Niger and needs to continue”.

“Whatever the political situation, continuing our humanitarian and resilience efforts is crucial at these times of crisis”, she added.

In just the first week of August, WFP delivered lifesaving food supplies to 140,000 across the country as well as malnutrition care to 74,000 children.

Ms. Van der Velden also called on all stakeholders to “stand firm” in their pledges to support those most in need.

Lean season

“In these tough times our focus remains to provide unwavering support to vulnerable communities during the ongoing lean season between harvests.”

The agency is poised to scale up its response in line with growing needs.

At least 3.3 million people are acutely food-insecure while there are 698,000 people forcibly displaced, including 358,000 internally, said WFP.

Agency staff are on the ground working with partners, and WFP expects to reach over one million people with emergency food assistance in August alone.

In addition, around 180,000 people impacted by climate shocks will also receive protective cash transfers as part of WFP’s year-round assistance.

But the agency noted that sanctions and border closures due to the political crisis were greatly affecting vital food and medical supplies into Niger, insisting that all parties allow free movement of humanitarian staff and aid.

The WFP regional director said the crunch in Niger was occurring at a time when global ration cuts due to lack of funding are “depriving millions of people we serve of assistance that not only puts food on their plates but safeguards their livelihoods.”

At breaking point

Around $71 million is needed to keep the support flowing through to January, with existing resources already “pushed to breaking point”.

“If we do not receive adequate funding, the consequences will be devastating and not just in Niger”, said Ms. Van der Velden. “In the Sahel, such crises do not recognize borders.”

Niger is also a critical supply chain route into neighbouring countries which are also facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, WFP stressed.

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