UNICEF has described the growing level of food crisis in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno as the worst case of famine and malnutrition in the world, stressing that the world and Nigeria does not realise how bad the situation has become.

UNICEF’s chief of nutrition in Nigeria, Arjan de Wagt, made the affirmation during an interview in Abuja, confirming with his colleagues in New York who said there is no other place in the world where people are in this kind of situation.

An estimated 4.5 million people need assistance with one million facing extreme malnutrition.

The area for aid intervention was first assessed by aid workers in April after Nigeria’s army successfully pushed back Boko Haram militants.

One in every five of severely malnourished children risks loosing their lives, and the situation in Borno is deplorable because the kids do not have proper food and lack health care.

Farmlands in Borno have been devastated and abandoned due to repeated Boko Haram attacks.

The UN has called on other international donors to put hands on deck and seek a lasting solution in an effort to prevent a greater catastrophe.