At least 652 children have tragically lost their lives due to malnutrition in Katsina State, Nigeria, during the first half of 2025, according to a recent report from Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF). The humanitarian organization emphasized that these preventable deaths are primarily attributed to funding cuts from international donors, a situation exacerbated by ongoing violence and insecurity in the northern region of Nigeria.

MSF highlighted in a statement that significant reductions in aid have predominantly come from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. This diminishing financial support has adversely affected the ability to treat malnourished children in the affected areas. By the conclusion of June 2025, MSF documented that nearly 70,000 children suffering from malnutrition received necessary medical care in Katsina, with approximately 10,000 of those requiring hospitalization due to severe conditions.

The organization stressed the urgent need for enhanced intervention focused on both the prevention and treatment of malnutrition, particularly in northern Nigeria, where the health crisis is escalating due to various factors. These include the prevalence of disease outbreaks linked to inadequate vaccination rates and limited access to basic healthcare services, all within a context of ongoing insecurity and disruptions caused by violence.

Alarmingly, the number of children experiencing the most severe forms of malnutrition in Katsina has surged by approximately 208% in 2025 compared to the previous year. MSF reported that the loss of life among these children represents a dire public health issue that necessitates immediate action.

In the backdrop of this crisis, banditry remains an acute concern in Katsina, with rampant insecurity leading to the displacement of countless individuals. Many have been forced to abandon their agricultural livelihoods, compounding the threats to food security and health. Local governments, alongside civilian vigilante groups, continue to strive to combat these challenges.

In a related development, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it would suspend food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northeastern region by the end of July. This suspension is attributed to critical funding shortfalls, primarily due to cuts in international aid. WFP’s regional head underscored the alarming implications of these suspensions, which threaten to plunge more than 300,000 children into severe malnutrition and leave 700,000 internally displaced individuals in precarious situations without means of survival.

For years, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been integral to the humanitarian response in northeastern Nigeria, providing food, healthcare, and shelter to millions. However, significant reductions in aid from the U.S. and other Western countries have created substantial gaps in support for vulnerable populations.

Nigeria has allocated approximately 200 billion naira (around 0 million) to mitigate the funding shortfalls impacting the health sector, yet the sustained commitment of international partners will be crucial in addressing this humanitarian crisis.

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