Malnutrition cases rise 18% in Northeast Nigeria, ICRC warns

By Kazeem Sherifat

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported an 18 per cent increase in malnutrition admissions at health facilities it supports in Northeast Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about the nutritional needs of vulnerable communities.

The organisation said admissions increased from about 17,000 cases between January and September 2025 to nearly 20,000 during the same period in 2026.

The figures were contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by the ICRC’s Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Dawobe.

According to the organisation, young children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are among those most affected by the worsening situation.

The ICRC attributed the growing nutritional challenges to factors including conflict, climate shocks and economic pressures that continue to undermine household food security in the region.

In Mubi, Adamawa State, malnutrition admissions increased by nearly 24 per cent, rising from approximately 4,600 cases between January and September 2025 to about 5,700 during the same period in 2026.

The organisation also highlighted the experiences of families seeking treatment and nutritional support for their children at facilities in the region.

One of the mothers, Zulaihatu Mohammed, brought her six-month-old daughter, Huseina, one of her twins, to a treatment centre for assessment and food collection.

Mohammed said the child had been unwell since birth.

The figures underscore the continuing pressure on families in conflict-affected parts of Northeast Nigeria, where insecurity and economic hardship have complicated access to adequate food and healthcare.

The ICRC said the latest data covered six health centres and four hospitals it supports in the region between January and September.

The organisation’s findings highlight the need for continued nutritional support and access to treatment for children and other vulnerable people affected by food insecurity.