United States Provides $9.5 Million to Prevent Malnutrition in Borno

The United States of America has provided an additional $9.5 million to the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) to prevent malnutrition in Borno state during this year’s “lean” season.

The provision was made through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to augment ongoing support by its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and Food for Peace (FFP) for more than 175,000 mothers and children under five in nine local government areas (LGA) in Borno State. This is in response to the call by WFP to meet a severe funding shortfall in which USAID is pleased to play a part in making sure that the most vulnerable of those impacted by the Boko Haram conflict are taken care of.

WFP launched what is called a Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program which will distribute the nutrient-rich food monthly through the end of the rainy, or “lean,” season, prevent further decline in nutritional status among young children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition, as well as protect the nutritional status of others who are not yet malnourished but are at high risk and anticipated to significantly reduce the burden on the health system related to treating malnutrition as well as other health conditions related to under nutrition, and consequently preventing related mortality.