Malnutrition Admissions Rise 18 Percent in North-East Nigeria Facilities, ICRC Reports

Admissions for malnutrition rose by nearly a fifth over a single year at health facilities supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in north-east Nigeria, according to figures released by the organization. Between January and September 2026, cases reached nearly 20,000 across six health centres and four hospitals, up from approximately 17,000 during the same period in 2025, with young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers being the most severely affected.

The ICRC noted that the sharpest increase occurred in Mubi, Adamawa State, where admissions climbed by roughly 24 percent. Facilities in Mubi recorded around 5,700 cases in the first nine months of 2026, compared to about 4,600 cases during the corresponding period the previous year.

The humanitarian organization attributed the worsening conditions to a combination of armed conflict, climate shocks, and economic pressures across the region. These factors have disrupted livelihoods and limited agricultural activity. In conflict-affected areas, farmers face safety risks from explosive devices, forcing some to restrict their farming to small plots close to their homes rather than cultivating larger outlying fields.

To address the crisis, the ICRC operates alongside the Nigerian Red Cross to support 15 primary health-care centres and four hospitals, while aiding more than 200 communities with malnutrition treatments and food security initiatives. These efforts include distributing climate-resilient seeds to farmers, encouraging crop diversity, and training mothers to prepare nutritious local foods such as "Tom Brown"—a blend of sorghum, millet, soybeans, groundnuts, and moringa. The ICRC reported that this mixture has helped more than 13,000 young children recover from moderate acute malnutrition.

The broader humanitarian situation remains severe following 15 years of conflict. Citing United Nations analysis, the report stated that more than 34 million people in Nigeria are projected to lack sufficient food in 2026, marking the highest figure in six years and placing the country among the world's highest-concern hunger hotspots.

Source