The European Union (EU) has announced the allocation of €500,000, approximately N900 million, to tackle the growing malnutrition crisis in North-eastern Nigeria.
According to a statement from the EU on Friday, the funding will provide emergency aid to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition in some of the country’s most vulnerable states.
The support will be implemented through the Nigeria Red Cross Society, which is set to assist about 170,000 households at risk of malnutrition across nine states: Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The EU noted that over 30,000 children urgently needing treatment will benefit directly from the intervention.
The programme will include community outreach, screening, and outpatient care using ready-to-use therapeutic food for uncomplicated cases, while complex cases will be referred to healthcare centres for specialised treatment in line with national health protocols.
In addition to addressing immediate malnutrition needs, the EU noted that “the Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of the affected families and intensifying efforts in water, protection, sanitation and hygiene.
This latest intervention forms part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) managed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In the North-east and North-west regions, including Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, an estimated 5.44 million children under five are acutely malnourished.
The EU noted that of this figure, two million children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition and will require lifesaving care, especially during the ongoing lean season from June to September.
“The nutrition crisis is worsening, driven by ongoing conflict and growing insecurity. This has led to prolonged displacement, a loss of livelihoods, and a significant reduction in vulnerable families’ access to essential healthcare services,” it noted.
“Compounding this situation are economic pressures and climate-related shocks such as flooding, as well as suboptimal maternal and child feeding practices.”
The urgency of the situation has prompted increasing concern from global and local organisations.
