The World Bank has said about 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen were on the “tipping point” of famine.
A statement by international financial institution's office in Abuja, Nigeria quoted the President, Dr Jim Yong Kim, disclosing the effort to raise $1.6 billion (about Sh164 billion) to build social protection systems to end food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen.
“We at the World Bank Group stand in solidarity with the people now threatened by famine,’’ read the statement.
“We are mobilising an immediate response for Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen...Our first priority is to work with partners to make sure that families have access to food and water," it added.
Dr Jim was further quoted saying the bank was seeking the approval of new operations amounting to $770 million, funded substantially through the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window.
“The World Bank Group will help respond to the immediate needs of the current famine, but we must recognise that famine will have lasting impacts on people’s health, ability to learn and earn a living.
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