Says more than 90% are children
170 dying every day
A new United Nations (UN) report estimates that the 12-year conflict in north-eastern Nigeria has contributed to the deaths of nearly 350,000 people more than 90% of whom are children.
The death toll, given by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in a new study on the war and its effect on livelihoods published yesterday, is 10 times higher than previous estimates of about 35,000 based only on those killed in fighting in Nigeria since violence broke out.
The UNDPstated that for every person killed directly in the fighting, at least nine other lives are lost because of the impact of the war, adding that children younger than five account for some 324,000 deaths, more than nine out of 10 of those killed, with 170 dying every day.
Since the Islamist group Boko Haram launched its first attacks in 2009, close to two million people have fled their homes in the three north-eastern States.
Agricultural production has been hit hard, leading to disease and hunger. Facilities, including health centres and schools, have been destroyed or become inaccessible.
Insecurity has led to declines in agricultural production and trade, reducing access to food and threatening the many households that depend on agriculture for their livelihood, the UN said.
The report added that thousands of people lack access to food, health facilities, shelter and clean water, with children more vulnerable. With another decade of conflict, that could grow to more than 1.1 million, it said.
The conflict shows little sign of ending.
