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• Malnutrition cases in Katsina State surged 208% compared to 2024.
• Since early 2025, 652 children died at MSF facilities from lack of timely treatment.
• The World Food Programme risks suspending aid for 1.3 million people without $130 million funding.
Northern Nigeria struggles with escalating food insecurity, driven by ongoing conflict and economic hardships. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns that the region is facing a “serious nutritional crisis.”
In a press release on July 26, MSF revealed malnutrition cases in Katsina State grew by 208% compared to the same period last year. The NGO reported that its teams care for 70,000 malnourished children, but sadly, 652 have already died this year due to delayed treatment access.
MSF attributes this crisis to persistent conflict, inflation affecting poor households’ food access, and a sharp cut in international aid. The USA’s suspension of all international aid programs, including dismantling USAID, alongside UK and EU cuts in official development assistance, has severely reduced emergency funding.
“At the same time, we observe ever-increasing needs, such as in Katsina state, where an increasing number of people cannot afford to buy food anymore, even though it is available in markets,” Ahmed Aldikhari, MSF’s Nigeria representative, said.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on 23 July that it might “be forced” to stop all emergency food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria by the end of July if it does not secure immediate funds. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that it has completely depleted its stocks of food and nutritional supplies. It added that the final reserves left the warehouses in early July and that crucial aid will cease once the current distributions finish. The UN agency needs $130 million to sustain operations until year’s end.
Nigeria already has the world’s largest population suffering high levels of acute food insecurity, nearly 31 million people.
This article was initially published in French by Espoir Olodo
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
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