Nigeria Faces Severe Child Malnutrition Crisis

A recent report by Save the Children warns that an additional one million children in Nigeria will suffer from acute malnutrition by April 2025 without urgent intervention, driven by extreme flooding, violence, and food shortages. Approximately 5.4 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition, with 1.8 million potentially facing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), an alarming 80% increase from previous figures. Meanwhile, in Gaza, UNICEF reports that one in every five children is malnourished, with some reaching emaciation due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by recent conflicts. The Israeli government's severance of ties with UNRWA is expected to further impact aid to Palestinian refugees, including necessary vaccinations for children. Additionally, a public health official in the UK has noted a 73% increase in malnutrition-related hospital admissions, highlighting a concerning trend linked to access to healthy food. The global surge in malnutrition underscores the urgent need for comprehensive food security and humanitarian strategies.