The Nigerian Red Cross Society has said that over 5.4 million children are currently malnourished in nine insecurity-affected states in Northern Nigeria.
According to the organisation, the affected states include Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Benue, and Kano.
Dr. Aminu Abdullahi, Acting Director of the Health and Care Department, disclosed this during the launch of the Nigeria Malnutrition Emergency Appeal (Northwest Zone) held in Kano on Tuesday.
Out of the total, 1.8 million children are severely malnourished.
Dr. Abdullahi said, “About 63 per cent of local government areas in these states are affected. Insecurity has displaced people from their farmlands and homes, wiping out their food sources. It’s not just about quantity-food quality also matters.”
He explained that the Red Cross is working at the preventive level by engaging communities, creating awareness, and screening malnourished children for proper referrals.
Red Cross national president, Prince Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga, described malnutrition as a silent killer that demands urgent action.
“Malnutrition affects the development of human systems and can give rise to new diseases due to a lack of basic nutrition,” he said.
The Kano State Red Cross Chairman, Barrister Salisu Sallama, expressed concern that while the situation in Kano may not yet be as severe as in other states, the worsening hunger across the country poses a growing threat.
DAILY TRUST
