The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a dire warning that 1.3 million children under five in Nigeria and Ethiopia may lose access to critical nutritional support due to severe funding shortages. The agency says urgent international intervention is needed to prevent a worsening child malnutrition crisis in both countries.
According to UNICEF’s latest report, life-saving therapeutic food supplies, medical treatment, and feeding programs could be disrupted within the next two months unless immediate financial support is secured. The organization attributes the shortfall to declining donor contributions and competing global humanitarian crises.
“These children are on the brink of severe malnutrition, and without immediate action, we risk losing thousands of young lives,” said UNICEF Nigeria Representative Cristian Munduate. “We urgently need additional funding to continue these vital programs.”
Both Nigeria and Ethiopia have long struggled with child malnutrition, exacerbated by conflicts, climate change, and economic instability. The situation has worsened due to rising food prices and displacement caused by violence in several regions.
In Nigeria, states such as Borno, Yobe, and Katsina have some of the highest malnutrition rates, largely due to ongoing insurgencies that have displaced millions. In Ethiopia, conflict in the Tigray region and prolonged droughts have left millions of children at risk of starvation.
UNICEF officials warn that without sustained funding:
- Over 1 million children may be denied access to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a critical treatment for severe acute malnutrition.
- Hospital admissions for malnourished children will decline, increasing mortality rates.
- Health programs for mothers and children will suffer, leading to long-term developmental damage among vulnerable populations.
In response to the crisis, UNICEF is appealing to governments, international organizations, and private donors to step up funding to sustain nutritional assistance programs.
“This is not just about numbers. These are real children, real families, and real futures at stake,” said UNICEF Ethiopia Representative Aboubacar Kampo. “We need urgent intervention to prevent a humanitarian disaster.”
As funding challenges persist, aid agencies are working to reallocate existing resources to the most critical cases. However, without new financial commitments, millions of children in Nigeria and Ethiopia remain at risk of severe malnutrition and potential fatalities.
Observers stress that international collaboration and immediate donor pledges will be crucial in ensuring that these children continue receiving life-saving assistance.
