People in northeast Nigeria face a threat to their lives as acute malnutrition has now reached severe levels.

Development Diaries reports that the displacement caused by insecurity and economic hardship in the region is leading to an alarming level of acute malnutrition, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Cases of hunger and acute malnutrition are alarming, especially amongst children in Borno and Adamawa states.

The current food inflation in Nigeria and the long-standing challenge of armed conflict and banditry in northeast Nigeria continue to fuel displacement and food shortages.

Record levels of food insecurity during the worst lean season in years are leaving communities unable to meet their essential needs.

‘Food security in Nigeria is severely challenged by rising prices and attacks by non-state armed groups hindering humanitarian efforts, hampering access to basic commodities and leading in turn to increased acute malnutrition rates’, IRC’s Country Director for Nigeria, Babatunde Ojei, said in a statement.

‘The situation is very critical. In the metropolitan areas where we are working right now, the prevalence of malnutrition has gone from 12 percent to 16 percent between 2022 and 2023.

‘The prevalence is likely to be higher in garrison towns and worse in communities where access to humanitarian services is limited. In the areas where the IRC operates, the caseload has doubled compared to previous years’.

According to data from the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), a total of 2,375,661 persons were internally displaced across the northeast, including Borno and Adamawa.

Development Diaries calls on the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation to intensify efforts in providing immediate relief to those displaced. We also urge President Bola Tinubu to address the ongoing food inflation and the widespread insecurity across the country.

Photo source: EUCPHA