Word Bank commits Sh164 billion to tackle hunger in Africa, Yemen

The World Bank has said about 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen were on the “tipping point” of famine.

A statement by international financial institution's office in Abuja, Nigeria quoted the President, Dr Jim Yong Kim, disclosing the effort to raise $1.6 billion (about Sh164 billion) to build social protection systems to end food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen.

“We at the World Bank Group stand in solidarity with the people now threatened by famine,’’ read the statement.

“We are mobilising an immediate response for Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen...Our first priority is to work with partners to make sure that families have access to food and water," it added.

Dr Jim was further quoted saying the bank was seeking the approval of new operations amounting to $770 million, funded substantially through the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window.

“The World Bank Group will help respond to the immediate needs of the current famine, but we must recognise that famine will have lasting impacts on people’s health, ability to learn and earn a living.

Future shocks

“So, we will also continue to work with communities to reclaim their livelihoods and build resilience to future shocks. We are coordinating closely with the UN and other partners in all areas of our response.’’

Famine was officially declared on February 20 in South Sudan, impacting approximately 100,000 people.

READ: Famine-hit South Sudanese eat weeds and water lilies to survive

There was a credible risk of famines in Yemen, northeast Nigeria and other countries, says the United Nations (UN).

Food insecurity

On-going conflicts and civil insecurity were further intensifying the food insecurity of millions of people across the region, and there was already widespread displacement and other cross-border spillover.

For instance, food insecurity in Somalia and famine in South Sudan were accelerating the flow of refugees.

Nigeria had dismissed some UN agencies' warnings of imminent famine in the country.

Out of farms

Agriculture minister Audu Ogbeh said that although terrorism crisis in the northeast had thrown the people out of farms for seven years, food production had been stepped up.

He said the food production was going on in North Central, North West, South West, South East and South South.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development –reported that Nigeria was one of the countries that would suffer famine, food shortage and malnutrition.