Responding to BBC report ‘The UN: World facing greatest humanitarian crisis since 1945’, Labour’s International Development Secretary, Kate Osamor MP, said:

“There has been only one certified famine globally since 2000. Parts of South Sudan are now in famine and in 2017 there is a credible risk of another three famines in Yemen, North East Nigeria and Somalia.

“The failure of wealthy states to react more quickly to an international humanitarian appeal for more than five million people facing severe food shortages has only worsened the situation, especially in Northern Nigeria, where the response has been extremely slow.

“I urge the government to help the millions affected by the crises; they need more than water, shelter and food. They often need safe refuge and an end to the violence, and a long-term way to reduce the risk of disasters they will face in the future.”