Famine ‘could spread to Nigeria and Somalia’ – UN

The UN’s children’s agency has followed its declaration of a famine in South Sudan with a warning that similar food crises are affecting three other countries – Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen.

Unicef says that almost 1.5 million children are at risk of starvation. Its deputy director, Justin Forsyth, told the BBC that political failure and conflict were to blame for the situation, which he said could be averted if aid agencies were given safe access to those in need.

Yemen is riven by civil war, while northern Nigeria and Somalia are grappling with Islamist insurgencies.