UN: 120,000 Nigerian likely face Boko Haram-created famine

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — More than 120,000 Nigerians likely will suffer "catastrophic" famine-like conditions caused by Boko Haram's Islamic uprising, among 11 million confronting severe food shortages this year, according to a new U.N. report.

The report from the Food and Agriculture Organization predicts Africa's biggest humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria likely will deteriorate during the "lean" food season between June and August.

"Trends show that food security and nutrition are worsening," it says. Some "8.7 million people are expected to be in crisis: 2 million in emergency and 121 000 in famine conditions, bringing the total number of severely food-insecure people to 11 million."

Worst affected is Borno state, the birthplace of Boko Haram, which may hold 65 percent of those "expected to face famine conditions."

U.N. agencies have reported that children already are dying in that region and some 515,000 face death if they don't get help.

Corruption and conflict between the government and aid agencies is compounding the crisis. Officials are investigating reports local government agencies are stealing food aid.