The United Nations Children’s Fund has warned that 420,000 Nigerian children could die this year from severe acute malnutrition if urgent action is not taken. UNICEF said 3.5 million children are currently affected, while 15 million under-fives are malnourished nationwide.
Nigeria’s UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Elfadil Saeed Abdelatef, issued the warning during her visit to the agency’s Maiduguri field office. She said 40 percent of children under five are stunted, meaning they may never reach their full physical or cognitive potential.
Also Read: UNICEF, Katsina Government Sign Deal to Boost Child WelfareÂ
Abdelatef called for increased funding, expansion of treatment centres, and investment in locally produced food solutions. She said the northeast remains gripped by a humanitarian crisis, with over 4.5 million people in urgent need of aid.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s education and health challenges, revealing that 18.3 million children are out of school and that 2.1 million children have never received a single vaccine, the highest figure in the world.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.