EU earmarks N900 million to fight malnutrition in Northern Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has allocated the sum of N900 million to help fight malnutrition in some states in Northern Nigeria.

The EU made the commitment on Friday in a statement signed by Mr Modestus Chukwulaka, the Press and Information Officer for its Embassy in Abuja.

Chukwulaka listed the states as Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

He said that the gesture was in response to the alarming level of malnutrition cases in the region.

According to him, the fund is for humanitarian aid to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from acute malnutrition.

Chukwulaka said that the fund would enable the Nigeria Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in the affected states and other parts of the country

“The aid will specifically support life-saving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment. Community outreach and screening will be integrated with outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases.

“This will be done by using ready-to-use therapeutic food, while the most complex cases will be referred to health centres for specialised care, all in accordance with national health protocols.

“The Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of the affected families and intensifying efforts in water protection, sanitation and hygiene.

“This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), ” he said.

He said that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in the Northeast, and Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states in the Northwest had an estimated 5.44 million children under five who are acutely malnourished.

“Two million are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition requiring lifesaving treatment, especially during the peak of the lean season from June to September.

“The nutrition crisis is worsening, driven by ongoing conflict and growing insecurity.

“This has led to prolonged displacement, a loss of livelihoods, and a significant reduction in vulnerable families’ access to essential healthcare services,” he said.

He said that the situation was further compounded by economic pressures and climate-related shocks such as flooding, as well as suboptimal maternal and child feeding practices.

Our correspondent reports that The EU and its member-states are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid.

It considers relief assistance as an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world.

It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity dignity of human populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the EU helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year.

With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs