UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will increase its operation in Niger after a recent food crisis due to drought and poor harvests, the United Nations (UN) announced on Friday.

“We’re doubling the size of our operations and ramping up already significant interventions, to take even swifter action to protect these children,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP.

A government report showed that nearly half of Niger’s 7.1 million people are currently affected by severe food shortage causing an alarming increase in child malnutrition. In addition, the acute malnutrition rate in the West African country has reached almost 17 percent for children under five, far above from the 12.3 percent estimated last year and the 15 percent warning threshold.

WPF is already providing food to 2.3 million people as requested by the government. A new emergency operation is being planned to assist an additional 2 million people, especially children, pregnant women and nourishing mothers.

The UN agency estimates that an extra $100 million will be needed for increase its aid in Niger. So far, humanitarian agencies have received 46 percent of the $190 million requested in April for the response to the crisis in Niger.

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