The European Union has announced a humanitarian aid package of €500,000 (approximately ₦900 million) to address the escalating malnutrition crisis in Nigeria’s northeastern and northwestern regions.
This funding aims to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Implemented through the Nigeria Red Cross Society, the initiative targets approximately 170,000 households across Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara states.
Key components of the intervention include community outreach, screening, and outpatient care for children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. The most critical cases will be referred to healthcare centres for specialized treatment, in line with national health guidelines.
The programme also aims to deliver lifesaving therapeutic food to over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment, while expanding the Red Cross’s ongoing health and nutrition services.
In addition to immediate nutritional aid, the initiative seeks to build the long-term resilience of affected families through improved water access, sanitation, hygiene, and protection services.
This funding is part of the European Union’s broader support to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, which channels resources to respond rapidly to emergencies that do not trigger large-scale international appeals.
The worsening nutrition crisis is attributed to ongoing conflict, insecurity, and displacement in the region, compounded by climate shocks such as flooding, economic pressures, and limited access to healthcare.
Inadequate maternal and child feeding practices also continue to contribute to the high rates of malnutrition.
The European Commission’s humanitarian aid department, which coordinates the EU’s global disaster response operations, emphasized that the funding reflects the Union’s commitment to addressing humanitarian needs in Nigeria and around the world.
