Millions of people in northeast Nigeria are facing severe hunger during the lean season between June and August, according to a warning from the United Nations. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised the alarm about widespread hunger and child malnutrition in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.

Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for OCHA, said that almost 600,000 people of the 4.3 million affected are facing emergency levels of food shortage. Additionally, an estimated two million children under five in the three states are facing wasting, with about 700,000 of them at risk of severe wasting.

These children are 11 times more likely to die compared to well-nourished children and require immediate interventions. The World Food Program is increasing its efforts to provide emergency food and nutrition aid to 2.1 million people, while UNICEF is providing therapeutic treatment to acutely malnourished children.

Laerke stressed that the situation could turn catastrophic for millions of people and drew attention to the lack of funding. Only 11% of the $1.3 billion needed for the northeast in 2023 has been met, he said. “The longer families go unassisted, the greater the risk of starvation and death, and more people may be forced into damaging and harmful coping strategies such as survival sex, selling their possessions, and child labor,” he warned.

The lean season, which typically begins next month, is the period between harvests when people struggle to meet their food needs. OCHA’s analysis shows that 4.3 million people are projected to face severe hunger during this time. The organization is calling for further scaling up of interventions, including food, therapeutic food, and livelihood assistance, to prevent a catastrophic situation.