The escalating malnutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeast demands urgent action from the government and its development partners to avert a looming humanitarian disaster.
Development Diaries reports that a survey by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reveals that the rate of global acute malnutrition has doubled in parts of Katsina State since 2023.
A July 2024 study in Katsina, Jibia, and Mashi areas reveals a severe nutritional crisis, with over 30 percent of children suffering from global acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition rates ranging from 6.8 percent to 14.4 percent.
‘These survey results are, quite frankly, terrifying’, MSF Medical Coordinator, Dr Raphael Kananga, said in a statement.
‘We have seen figures rising steadily for the past couple of years, and now we are moving from critical to extremely critical levels.
‘In one area of the state, Mashi local government area, we found 14 percent of children we surveyed were severely malnourished, a prevalence this high is catastrophic.
‘We really need to see more, not less action from organisations, otherwise, we are going to see children dying in record numbers’.
Children in these areas are suffering under an extremely critical level of malnutrition, which is level five – the worst possible designation – of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system for evaluating malnutrtion.
Clashes between herders and farmers, as well as organized bandit groups, have destabilized the daily lives of residents in the state.
Armed banditry and kidnapping have forced many people to flee their homes, and have made it difficult for communities to access their fields and livelihoods.
Extreme climatic events, such as flooding, have contributed to the malnutrition crisis, coupled with rising inflation, which has made food more expensive.
Development Diaries urges the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to join forces with the Federal Ministry of Health to tackle the alarming malnutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeast – action is needed now to save lives!
We call on President Bola Tinubu to implement bold policies that curb the soaring cost of food and essentials – Nigerians need relief now!
Photo source: MSF
