A deepening malnutrition crisis in northern Nigeria has reached alarming levels, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reporting a sharp rise in child deaths and warning of catastrophic consequences without urgent intervention. Since January 2025, at least 652 children have died in MSF facilities in Katsina State alone due to delayed access to critical care, while nearly 70,000 malnourished children—including 10,000 requiring hospitalization—have been treated this year across the region.
The humanitarian group revealed that cases of nutritional oedema, a severe and often fatal form of malnutrition, surged by 208% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The crisis has now extended beyond children, with screenings showing over half of mothers bringing children to MSF clinics in Katsina are themselves acutely malnourished. Pregnant and breastfeeding women face heightened risks, compounding intergenerational health impacts.
MSF has expanded its response by opening new therapeutic feeding centers in Mashi and Turai, increasing total bed capacity to 900, and distributing nutritional supplements to 66,000 children. However, the organization warns these efforts are undermined by dwindling international support. “Budget cuts from major donors like the U.S., U.K., and EU are having devastating effects,” said Ahmed Aldikhari, MSF’s Nigeria representative. He described 2024 as a turning point that has now escalated beyond predictions, with treatment programs strained by funding gaps.
The World Food Programme (WFP) exacerbated pressures this week by announcing it will suspend emergency food and nutrition aid to 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria by July’s end due to financial shortfalls. While food remains available in some markets, a recent survey in Katsina’s Kaita district found over 90% of households have reduced daily meals amid spiraling poverty. Emmanuel Berbain, an MSF nutrition specialist, emphasized that survival hinges on immediate access to food: “Large-scale distributions, cash transfers, and therapeutic foods are vital to prevent more deaths.”
Underlying the crisis are intersecting challenges: limited healthcare access, low vaccination rates, economic instability, and persistent insecurity. Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima recently declared malnutrition a “national emergency,” noting nearly 40% of children under five suffer stunted growth and cognitive impairments from chronic undernutrition. MSF data shows over 300,000 children were treated for malnutrition in seven northern states in 2024—a 25% annual increase—with 100,000 cases already recorded in the northwest in 2025’s first six months.
As mortality risks mount, MSF urges Nigerian authorities and global partners to rapidly scale up both emergency aid and long-term solutions. Without coordinated action, the organization warns, the toll on vulnerable populations—particularly women and children—will escalate in coming months.
