By Joy Odor
The European Union (EU) has allocated €500,000 (approximately N900 million) in humanitarian aid to combat malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria.
The funding will support the Nigeria Red Cross Society in providing emergency assistance to around 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in nine northern states.
The aid will focus on lifesaving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment, including community outreach, screening, and outpatient care using ready-to-use therapeutic food.
The most complex cases will be referred to health centers for specialized care.
This initiative aims to not only address the immediate needs of affected families but also improve their medium-term resilience through health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions.
The funding is part of the EU’s contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The move comes as an estimated 5.44 million children under five in northeastern Nigeria are acutely malnourished, with 2 million projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
