Hunger, Malnutrition Threaten Northeast Nigeria As WFP Demands Immediate Aid

In Northeast Nigeria, a hu­manitarian crisis is esca­lating beyond proportion as acute hunger hits nearly five million people, while severe mal­nutrition has left 2.5 million chil­dren barely surviving, with little hope for the future. This is just as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has lamented that the silence surrounding the crisis is deeply troubling.

It is a brutal reality unfolding in real time, driven by relentless conflict that has decimated food systems, shattered healthcare access, and stripped families of their livelihoods, WFP bemoaned. In a statement signed by Chi Lael, Head of Communications, Advo­cacy and Marketing, WFP, Abu­ja, Nigeria Entire communities are being pushed to the edge of starvation, and the consequences will echo for generations without urgent intervention.

The crisis is not just human­itarian – it is a moral burden. Children are wasting away not because food is unavailable, but because conflict and neglect have made it unreachable, WFP noted. Parents are watching helplessly as their children grow weaker, caught in a cycle of violence and deprivation that no one should remain silent about.

In response, the United Na­tions World Food Programme has raised an urgent alarm, urgently pleading for increased support to prevent further deterioration of tragic situation.

The conflict, which has persist­ed for years, has severely disrupt­ed agricultural activities and food production WFP reported. Farm­ers are being driven from their fields by violence, with over three attacks recorded daily on com­munities across the northeast over the past nine months. This relentless violence has not only destroyed crops and livelihoods but has also forced families into displacement, stripping them of their means to feed themselves. As a result, many are facing hun­ger, malnutrition, and the peril­ous prospect of recruitment by armed groups seeking to exploit their vulnerability.

The gravity of the crisis is underscored by the fact that more than 2.5 million children are malnourished – a figure that highlights the profound impact on Nigeria’s youngest and most vulnerable. Without urgent in­tervention, these children risk lifelong health complications, stunted growth, and even death. The WFP’s efforts to provide life-saving nutrition services are critical, yet they are under threat due to funding shortages.

Recently, the WFP received a vital boost from donors, includ­ing the United States of America, which has contributed funds to support emergency food and nu­trition assistance. This funding will enable the organisation to keep 187 nutrition clinics opera­tional across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, ensuring that more than 300,000 malnourished children and mothers continue to receive essential treatment. With­out this support, these clinics faced imminent closure, which would have had catastrophic con­sequences for vulnerable popula­tions.

David Stevenson, WFP Coun­try Director in Nigeria, empha­sised the importance of this support. Stevenson said, “These contributions come at a pivotal moment for Nigeria and the wid­er region. Escalating conflict is driving farmers from their fields, and over the past nine months, WFP and partners have record­ed more than three attacks each day on communities across the northeast, with farmers among the hardest hit.”

He further explained that the disruption to food production has left families with no means to feed themselves, heightening the risk of hunger, displacement, and re­cruitment by armed groups.

Despite the recent funding, the assistance provided by WFP is only a fraction of what is need­ed. The organisation plans to sup­port 850,000 people in camps and host communities over the next three months – less than the 1.5 million people assisted in July-highlighting the ongoing funding shortfall. WFP is now calling on other donors, including the Ni­gerian Government and private sector partners, to step forward and help bridge the gap.

The stakes could not be higher. Without additional support, WFP warns that operations will face further cuts, deepening the hun­ger crisis and leaving millions more at risk of starvation. The situation in North East Nigeria demands urgent, sustained action to save lives, restore hope, and re­build a region ravaged by conflict and hunger. The international community must heed this call and invest in peace, stability, and food security for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

The statement partly reads, “The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes re­cent contributions from donors since warning that operations would be forced to shut down in July.

“This includes new funding from the United States of Amer­ica to support emergency food and nutrition assistance for com­munities affected by conflict in Northeast Nigeria. The conflict has pushed more than five mil­lion people into acute hunger, and more than 2.5 million children are malnourished.

“This funding will keep 187 nu­trition clinics open across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, ensur­ing continued treatment for more than 300,000 malnourished chil­dren and mothers, a service that was at risk of shutting down.

“These contributions come at a pivotal moment for Nigeria and the wider region,” said David Stevenson, WFP Country Direc­tor in Nigeria. “Escalating con­flict is driving farmers from their fields, Over the past nine months, WFP and partners have record­ed more than three attacks each day on communities across the northeast, with farmers among the hardest hit. This disruption to food production has left families with no means to feed themselves, while those left behind face hun­ger, displacement, and the risk of recruitment by armed groups.”

The statement further said, “As Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria plays a critical role in safeguarding regional stability and preventing the spread of inse­curity across the Sahel. With this funding, WFP will continue to advance humanitarian solutions that drive peace and production, helping to restore Northern Ni­geria’s potential as the nation’s breadbasket.

“Support from the United States and other donors will en­able WFP to sustain operations over the next three months, reach­ing 850,000 people in camps and host communities with food as­sistance.

“This however is a significant reduction from the 1.5 million people WFP assisted in July, re­flecting continued funding short­falls. WFP urgently calls on other donors, including the Nigerian Government and private sector, to help close the funding gap and co-invest in the region. Without additional contributions, opera­tions will face further cuts, put­ting millions of people at risk of deepening hunger,” WFP added in the statement.

The World Food Programme appreciated donors who have responded since July, including United States of America, Unit­ed Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, EU-ECHO, France, African Develop­ment Bank, and UN CERF.

@Independent (Nigeria)