Devex: U.N. outlines ‘new way of working in crisis’ with $4.4B famine appeal for 4 countries
“The United Nations has announced a $4.4 billion appeal to respond to the escalating risk of famine in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen in a move defined by strengthened coordination between development and humanitarian agencies. United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark hailed the move as a ‘new way of working in crisis’ that deals with short-term emergency needs as well as planning for a more sustainable future that would help avoid other disasters…” (Lieberman, 2/22).

New York Times: Why 20 Million People Are on Brink of Famine in a ‘World of Plenty’
“In a world filled with excess food, 20 million people are on the brink of famine, including 1.4 million children at imminent risk of death. In the face of such grim numbers, a stark question confronts the world’s most powerful: Why in 2017 can’t they avert such a seemingly archaic and preventable catastrophe? Secretary-General António Guterres of the United Nations raised the alarm Wednesday afternoon about the risk of famine in northern Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. And this week, the United Nations declared famine in a patch of South Sudan…” (Sengupta, 2/22).

U.N. News Centre: Tackling hunger crises in South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Yemen requires $4.4 billion — U.N.
“Sounding the alarm on behalf of more than 20 million people in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and north-east Nigeria facing devastating levels of food insecurity, Secretary-General António Guterres joined other top United Nations officials [Wednesday] calling for ‘strong and urgent’ action from the international community to help the already-fragile countries avert catastrophe. … Briefing the press at U.N. Headquarters in New York alongside the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien, the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark, and by video conference, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) Ertharin Cousin, Mr. Guterres said the U.N. needs at least $4.4 billion by the end of March to avert a catastrophe…” (2/22).

U.N. News Centre: Humanitarian agencies seek $1 billion to provide life-saving aid to millions in northeast Nigeria — U.N.
“As relief organizations increase response to the humanitarian emergency in the north-east of Nigeria, timely donor support amounting to a little over $1 billion is required to sustain life-saving assistance to millions people devastated by Boko Haram-linked violence, the United Nations relief aid wing has said. ‘If the resources do not arrive in time, one in five children suffering severe acute malnutrition could die,’ said Peter Lundberg, the deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria in a press release issued [Tuesday] by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)…” (2/22).