In response to the alarming levels of malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria, the European Union (EU) has allocated €500,000, over N900 million, in humanitarian aid to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
A statement by EU Mission IN Nigeria, weekend, noted that: “This funding will enable the Nigeria Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in the northern states of Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
“The aid will specifically support lifesaving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment.
“Community outreach and screening will be integrated with outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases using ready-to-use therapeutic food while the most complex cases will be referred to health centres for specialised care, all in accordance with national health protocols.
“The Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of the affected families and intensifying efforts in water, protection, sanitation and hygiene.”
The statement further noted that, “This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“In the Northeast: Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states, and Northwest: Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states of Nigeria, an estimated 5.44 million children under five are acutely malnourished. Two million are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition requiring lifesaving treatment, especially during the peak of the lean season from June to September 2025.
“The nutrition crisis is worsening, driven by ongoing conflict and growing insecurity. This has led to prolonged displacement, a loss of livelihoods, and a significant reduction in vulnerable families’ access to essential healthcare services. Compounding this situation are economic pressures and climate-related shocks such as flooding, as well as suboptimal maternal and child feeding practices.
Background
The EU and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world.
It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.
Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Department, the EU helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.
The European Commission has signed a €12 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF).
Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to ‘small-scale’ disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal. The fund was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors.
Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can be replenished by the donors.
The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €12 million.