ABUJA (CHATNEWSTV) — The European Union has committed over N900 million (€500,000) in humanitarian aid to help tackle severe acute malnutrition among children and mothers in Nigeria’s conflict-hit northeast, the EU Commission said Friday.
The press statement, sent to ChatNewsTV on Friday, announced that the funding will support emergency operations by the Nigeria Red Cross Society and is expected to reach approximately 170,000 households across nine northern states, including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto.
“This assistance is aimed at saving lives and supporting some of the most vulnerable populations affected by a worsening nutrition crisis,” said Modestus Chukwulaka, Press Officer for the EU Delegation in Nigeria.
The EU said the funds will enable treatment for more than 30,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The effort will combine community outreach and screening with outpatient care using ready-to-use therapeutic foods. More complex cases will be referred to health facilities in line with national medical guidelines.
The nutrition situation in northern Nigeria has reached alarming levels. An estimated 5.44 million children under five are acutely malnourished, and nearly 2 million are expected to require life-saving treatment during the peak lean season between June and September 2025.
“The EU’s support will not only provide immediate relief, but also help strengthen the resilience of communities through better water, sanitation, protection, and hygiene interventions,” Chukwulaka added.
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), a mechanism used to respond swiftly to small-scale emergencies.
EU humanitarian officials say Nigeria’s nutrition crisis is being exacerbated by persistent conflict, insecurity, climate shocks, displacement, and poor maternal and child feeding practices.
“The combined impact of violence, economic pressure, and environmental challenges is pushing families to the brink,” said an EU official familiar with the intervention.
With this latest allocation, the EU reaffirms its role as the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid, aiming to “alleviate human suffering and safeguard dignity,” the Commission said.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
