Rachel Afocha
The European Union (EU) has allocated €500,000 (over N900 million) in humanitarian aid to combat malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria. The funding will be channeled through the Nigeria Red Cross Society to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
The aid will target approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in nine northern states, including Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. Specifically, the funding will support lifesaving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment.
The Nigeria Red Cross Society will integrate community outreach and screening with outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases using ready-to-use therapeutic food. Complex cases will be referred to health centers for specialized care, in accordance with national health protocols.
This initiative is part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The funding aims to not only provide immediate relief but also improve the medium-term resilience of affected families through health and nutrition interventions, water, protection, sanitation, and hygiene efforts.
The nutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeast and northwest regions is dire, with an estimated 5.44 million children under five acutely malnourished, and 2 million projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, particularly during the lean season from June to September 2025. The crisis is exacerbated by ongoing conflict, insecurity, economic pressures, and climate-related shocks.
The EU’s timely intervention is expected to bring relief to thousands of vulnerable families and help mitigate the impact of malnutrition in the region.
