From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
A humanitarian organisation, the Long-Term Solution for Destitute Initiative, has announced an expanded regional response to the worsening hunger crisis across West Africa, following a warning by the Food and Agriculture Organisation that 16 countries, including Nigeria, face a high risk of severe food insecurity.
The organisation described the FAO alert as an urgent call for coordinated and sustained intervention to prevent a deepening humanitarian emergency, particularly among children, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Abubakar Ahmad, to mark the launch of a renewed hunger response agenda, LOSDI said it would roll out large-scale humanitarian and development interventions targeting out-of-school children, destitute individuals, IDPs and at-risk populations across the region.
According to the organisation, hunger has moved beyond a seasonal challenge to a persistent structural crisis driven by poverty, conflict, climate change, economic shocks and social exclusion.
It warned that failure to act promptly could worsen child malnutrition, increase school dropouts, fuel social instability and erode human dignity in fragile communities.
LOSDI said the planned programmes would adopt a dual-track approach, combining immediate humanitarian assistance such as food distribution and nutrition support with long-term solutions focused on livelihoods, resilience building and vulnerability reduction.
The interventions, it added, would be implemented in collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, community-based groups, donor agencies and development partners.
As part of a phased rollout, the organisation disclosed that the first phase would be implemented in Nigeria, Niger Republic and The Gambia, countries currently experiencing heightened food insecurity.
Drawing on over two decades of experience working with disadvantaged communities, LOSDI expressed confidence in its capacity to deliver transparent and impact-driven interventions that address both immediate needs and root causes of hunger.
The organisation also called on the media, civil society groups, development partners, philanthropists and the private sector to support the initiative, stressing the role of the media in raising awareness and mobilising support.
LOSDI concluded that tackling hunger requires collective action and long-term commitment, noting that sustainable development cannot be achieved while millions of vulnerable citizens remain trapped in hunger and deprivation.
