By Chioma Iruke
The United Nations (UN) estimates that about 40 million more people worldwide are likely to be added to the number of those in need of humanitarian assistance or protection in 2022.
The UN is projecting that a total of 274 million people in need in 2022, up from 250 million in 2021.
This was reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Thursday.
“Needs continue to increase because of the confluence of political instability, increased displacement levels, climate impacts and the effects of COVID-19.
“Humanitarian aid saves lives if delivered in a timely manner, the money we spend is not money wasted,” said Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths.
He added that humanitarian assistance and a political solution are required to tackle the problem.
He is most concerned about the situation in Ethiopia, where the government is fighting the long-dominant Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
It said that one in 29 of the world’s population is in need of assistance.