UN Sounds Alarm as Northeast Nigeria Faces Decade’s Worst Hunger Crisis Amid Aid Shortfall

The United Nations has raised a stark warning over the worsening humanitarian situation in northeastern Nigeria, stating that millions of people are at risk as the region confronts its most severe hunger crisis in a decade. Aid shortfalls and reductions in international assistance have compounded the plight of already vulnerable communities, leaving thousands of families on the brink of starvation.

According to UN reports, the crisis is particularly acute in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, areas long battered by insurgency, displacement, and economic disruption. Humanitarian agencies note that declining food aid, coupled with rising prices of basic staples, has left many households unable to secure sufficient meals. Children, the elderly, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are especially at risk.

The UN has called for immediate international support, emphasizing that the current level of intervention is inadequate to meet the scale of need. “Without urgent action, the lives of millions could be lost, and the social and economic fabric of the northeast will face irreparable damage,” the UN statement warned.

Local authorities have urged a coordinated response, stressing that sustainable solutions must address both emergency relief and long-term food security. Analysts argue that unless global partners step up, the crisis could escalate further, aggravating regional instability and prompting renewed displacement.

The humanitarian warning underscores the intersection of insecurity, economic hardship, and climate stress in Nigeria’s northeast, painting a grim picture for communities that have endured years of conflict and neglect.