Health and Gender

N/East: Number of malnourished children in hospitals rising amid high food insecurity-ICRC

Agency Report

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed concern over the number of admission of severally malnourished children in the North-East as a result of severe food scarcity.

The ICRC raised the concern in a statement issued by Mr Aliyu Dawobe, its Public Relations Officer on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Red Cross said the rise in the number of malnourished children was recorded between the third quarters of 2023 and 2024.

It said the increase was part of a trend affecting the entire Lake Chad Basin region.

It estimated that 6.1 million people would not have enough to eat in the coming months, partly because of conflict and climate, the highest figure in four years.

“The rise in the number of people without enough food mirrors an increase in violence, which has severely impacted communities’ ability to grow crops and access markets.

“Violent incidents in the Lake Chad region in the first half of 2024 rose 58 per cent compared with the same period in 2023.

“Climate hazards are also preventing people from growing crops and accessing their farmland and markets, contributing to a food security crisis being felt across Lake Chad – in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

“In North-East, the start of the harvest season coincided this year with heavy floods that washed away seeds and all hope of harvest after an especially dry lean season,’’ the Red Cross said.

The statement quoted Mr Yann Bonzon, ICRC’s Head of Delegation in Nigeria as  sayong that the consequences of spiraling violence and climate variability were devastating for families trying to feed themselves.

Bonzon said they identified proof in supported health facilities where the rising number of children with severe acute malnutrition was heartbreaking.

“Unfortunately, they only represent a fraction of those in need across the region,’’ he said.

According to him, in September, the ICRC expanded its efforts to curb malnutrition rates by supporting two additional health centres for malnourished children in Yobe and Adamawa States.

“This will allow medical teams to provide a range of key services, including consultations, nutritional screenings, and treatment for malnourished children with complications,’’ he said.

He added that the ICRC, with its partners from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, carried out activities assisting millions of people impacted by the combining effects of conflict and climate across the Lake Chad Basin.

“In North-East Nigeria in 2024, 187’000 people benefited from assistance in response to food shortages, delivered by the ICRC and the Nigeria Red Cross Society.

Alhaji Abubakar Kende, Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society said the Red Cross was increasing its humanitarian assistance.

“We are afraid it is not going to be enough, because the needs are much higher than the help we are able to provide.

“The ICRC reminds all parties to armed conflicts that it is their responsibility under international humanitarian law (IHL), to ensure that people living in the territories under their control can meet their essential needs,” Kende said.

He said the essential needs were food, water, medical care, and access to farmland and markets.

“The ICRC engages all parties to armed conflicts on the respect for IHL, including their conduct of hostilities.

“Indeed, IHL violations can negatively impact food security by disrupting access to fields and markets, restricting seasonal movement of livestock, and limiting access of humanitarian actors to communities in need,’’ he said(https://newsatlarge.ng)

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