Abuja, Nigeria| The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued an urgent warning that it will run out of lifesaving food supplies for severely malnourished children in Ethiopia and Nigeria within the next two months.
The crisis stems from a significant funding shortfall, with UNICEF citing cuts to U.S. foreign aid as a major contributing factor.
Looming Supply Chain Collapse
Speaking during a video briefing from Abuja, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, Kitty Van der Heijden, emphasized the gravity of the situation.
“Without new funding, we will run out of our supply chain of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) by May,” she stated.
The specialized food, a critical treatment for severe acute malnutrition, is often the last line of defense for children suffering from life-threatening hunger.
The shortage could have devastating consequences, particularly in Ethiopia, where 70,000 children depend on this form of treatment. “Interruption to continuous treatment is life-threatening,” Van der Heijden warned.
In Nigeria, the situation is even more dire, with UNICEF warning that food supplies for 80,000 malnourished children could run out as early as the end of March.
Van der Heijden described visiting a hospital in Maiduguri, where she witnessed firsthand the severity of the crisis.
“I saw a child so malnourished that her skin was falling off,” she recounted, underscoring the extreme suffering faced by affected children.
Impact of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts
UNICEF has attributed part of the crisis to sudden reductions in U.S. foreign aid, which have disrupted global relief efforts.
“This funding crisis will become a child survival crisis,” Van der Heijden stressed, highlighting the ripple effects of the budget cuts on humanitarian programs worldwide.
In Ethiopia, the funding shortfall has already led to the closure of 23 mobile health clinics in the Afar region, leaving only seven operational.
These mobile clinics are essential in reaching children in remote and conflict-affected areas where access to medical care is otherwise limited.
A Broader Hunger Crisis
The dire situation in Ethiopia and Nigeria is part of a broader hunger crisis affecting millions across the African continent.
Persistent conflicts, climate change, and economic instability have exacerbated food insecurity, making external aid a crucial lifeline for vulnerable populations.
The loss of therapeutic food supplies could push already fragile communities into deeper crisis, increasing the risk of child mortality.
A Call for Immediate Action
UNICEF is urgently appealing for international donors to step in and fill the funding gap before the situation deteriorates further.
The agency has called on governments, humanitarian organizations, and private donors to act swiftly to prevent a catastrophe.
“If we do not receive new funding immediately, these children will have no safety net,” Van der Heijden warned. “We are facing a preventable tragedy, and we cannot afford to look away.”
With time running out, the fate of 1.3 million severely malnourished children hangs in the balance, and the global community now faces a crucial test of its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.
Share This Post