China Donates $5m to Fight Malnutrition in N’East Nigeria

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a US $5 million contribution from the Government of China to provide desperately-needed food assistance to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North-east Nigeria, where the threat of famine is real and growing.

The funds will allow WFP to reach 410,000 IDPs in Borno and Yobe states, where the Boko Haram insurgency has left millions destitute. It is especially good news at a time when funding shortfall forced WFP to cut rations of some commodities in April.

“We applaud the Government and people of China for their significant contribution to WFP’s operations in North-east Nigeria,” said WFP Country Director and Representative ad interim in Nigeria, Ronald Sibanda. “This will help WFP to continue providing food and nutrition assistance to reach more families in the region.

“By partnering with WFP in its laudable humanitarian efforts here today, the Chinese government and people once again show solidarity with those Nigerian brothers and sisters who are temporarily not in an easy situation. Besides what China committed through WFP, China has also committed US$7.25 million in emergency in-kind food assistance to Nigeria, which will be ready for delivery to the North-east by the end of June,” said Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian.

“Through this donation to WFP, the Government and people of China have shown us that the world has not abandoned us in the North-east,” said Borno State Governor Kashima Shettima. “This will allow WFP to continue delivering food assistance to some of the most vulnerable people in Borno State.”

The ceremony to mark China’s contribution took place at WFP’s warehouse in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.