Humanitarian agencies around the world face a never-ending race against time to save lives in places where conflicts, extreme weather, and other shocks lead to collapsing economies, leaving populations facing hunger and other forms of food insecurity.
Nigeria is a prime example. Across the country, lives and livelihoods are being shattered by conflict and climate shocks. The 16-year insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. Persistent droughts and recurring storms have disrupted farming and herding. Once a breadbasket, the country’s northern regions now rely heavily on humanitarian food assistance.