UNITED NATIONS: The world body’s humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien called on Friday for an urgent mobilisation of funds – US$4.4 billion by July – for northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen to “avert a catastrophe.” The United Nations is warning that the world is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II, with more than 20 million people facing starvation and famine in four countries.
“Otherwise, many people will predictably die from hunger, livelihoods will be lost and political gains that have been hardwon over the last few years will be reversed,” O’Brien said in his stark warning to the UN Security Council. “Without collective and coordinated global efforts, people will simply starve to death. Many more will suffer and die from disease. Children stunted and out of school. Livelihoods, futures and hope will be lost.”
