The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has issued an urgent warning concerning a critical funding shortfall that threatens the lives of approximately 1.3 million children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Nigeria and Ethiopia. The agency projects that, without immediate financial intervention, these children could lose access to lifesaving treatment within weeks.
In Nigeria, UNICEF anticipates depleting its supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) by the end of March 2025, jeopardizing the treatment of 80,000 malnourished children. Similarly, in Ethiopia, 70,000 children are at risk of losing access to essential nutritional support by May.
This looming crisis is exacerbated by recent reductions in international aid, including significant cuts from major donors. The funding gap has also led to the suspension of vital health programs, such as nutrition and malaria care services for pregnant women and children, and the operation of mobile health clinics in affected regions.
UNICEF's Deputy Executive Director, Kitty Van der Heijden, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without new funding, the interruption of continuous treatment poses a life-threatening risk to these children. The agency calls on the international community to respond promptly to avert a potential child survival crisis.