UN Raises Alarm on Food Crisis in Niger

The United Nations warned that the crisis in Niger could significantly worsen food insecurity in the impoverished country, calling for humanitarian exemptions to sanctions and border closures to avoid catastrophe.

In a statement, WFP said it expected to reach more than 1 million people with emergency food assistance this month alone.

However, it cautioned that "sanctions and border closures linked to the political crisis were greatly affecting the supply of vital foods and medical supplies into Niger."

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA highlighted that even before Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum was toppled late last month, the country counted more than 3 million acutely food-insecure people.

It noted that more than 7 million others, who are considered to be moderately food-insecure, "could see their situation worsen due to the unfolding crisis.

According to OCHA, Niger is currently affected by the worst food security crisis of this decade, with 4.4 million people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. This issue is in the context of continued deteriorating security in the Sahel region, which further aggravates the socio-economic vulnerabilities of the population.