Lake Chad: 7m on brink of famine – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday food
security in the Lake Chad basin had deteriorated with more than
seven million people in countries bordering the lake facing the
threat of famine.

Buhari, who quoted report of the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the Lake, which is a
source of livelihood to over 45 million people had receded greatly
and now posed a serious challenge to people of the sub- region.

The President spoke on the sidelines of a high level meeting of
the international conference on Lake Chad in Abuja.

Buhari was joined at the meeting by Presidents Mahamadou
Issoufou (Niger), Idriss Deby Itno (Chad), Faustin-Archange
Touadera (Central African Republic) and Ali Bongo (Gabon).

He said because of the threat to food security in the region,
half a million children now suffer from severe malnutrition.

The President said the Lake, which was a hub of economic
activities and food security providing source of livelihoods to
farmers, fishermen and herdsmen had become a challenge that
required global action.

Buhari said: “The Lake Chad is very dear to our heart as it is a
source of livelihood to over 45 million people living in the Basin.
This Lake, which is one of the oldest lakes in Africa is shared by
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and
Nigeria.

“The people living in the Basin depend on the Lake Chad for
agriculture, fisheries and livestock for their economic well-being.
The Lake Chad region was formerly an ‘oasis in the desert,’ a hub
of economic activities and food security. The farmers, fishermen,
herdsmen and traders were happy because business was booming. The
happiness and contentment contributed to stability of the
sub-region.”

President Muhammadu Buhari said on Wednesday food
security in the Lake Chad basin had deteriorated with more than
seven million people in countries bordering the lake facing the
threat of famine.

Buhari, who quoted report of the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the Lake, which is a
source of livelihood to over 45 million people had receded greatly
and now posed a serious challenge to people of the sub- region.

The President spoke on the sidelines of a high level meeting of
the international conference on Lake Chad in Abuja.

Buhari was joined at the meeting by Presidents Mahamadou
Issoufou (Niger), Idriss Deby Itno (Chad), Faustin-Archange
Touadera (Central African Republic) and Ali Bongo (Gabon).

He said because of the threat to food security in the region,
half a million children now suffer from severe malnutrition.

The President said the Lake, which was a hub of economic
activities and food security providing source of livelihoods to
farmers, fishermen and herdsmen had become a challenge that
required global action.

Buhari said: “The Lake Chad is very dear to our heart as it is a
source of livelihood to over 45 million people living in the Basin.
This Lake, which is one of the oldest lakes in Africa is shared by
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and
Nigeria.

“The people living in the Basin depend on the Lake Chad for
agriculture, fisheries and livestock for their economic well-being.
The Lake Chad region was formerly an ‘oasis in the desert,’ a hub
of economic activities and food security. The farmers, fishermen,
herdsmen and traders were happy because business was booming. The
happiness and contentment contributed to stability of the
sub-region.”