The European Union (EU) has announced a humanitarian aid package worth €500,000 (over ₦900 million) to address the worsening crisis of severe acute malnutrition affecting children and mothers in northeastern Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the EU Commission in Nigeria, the funding will be channelled through the Nigeria Red Cross Society to support 170,000 vulnerable households across nine high-risk states: Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Over 30,000 Children to Receive Lifesaving Support
The aid package prioritises emergency nutrition interventions, with a focus on treating more than 30,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“Community outreach and screening will be integrated with outpatient care using ready-to-use therapeutic food for uncomplicated cases, while critical cases will be referred to health centres in line with national protocols,” the statement noted.
Malnutrition Reaches Alarming Levels
According to EU data, an estimated 5.44 million children under five are currently acutely malnourished in Nigeria’s Northeast (Adamawa, Borno, Yobe) and Northwest (Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara). Of this number, 2 million children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition requiring lifesaving care, especially during the upcoming lean season from June to September 2025.
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Building Long-Term Resilience
Beyond immediate interventions, the Red Cross will also scale up health and nutrition programmes, while strengthening water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and protection services. These efforts aim to enhance the medium-term resilience of affected families.
EU’s Broader Commitment to Emergency Relief
The funding forms part of the EU’s wider contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) under the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This initiative reinforces the EU’s long-standing commitment to supporting life-saving humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, particularly for the most vulnerable children and women facing malnutrition and displacement.