UNICEF has warned that life-saving therapeutic food for severely malnourished children in Ethiopia and Nigeria could run out by May unless urgent funding is secured.
Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden stated that nearly 74,500 children in these countries require immediate treatment each month.
In Nigeria alone, where around 80,000 children need care monthly, supplies of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) could be depleted by the end of May.
Van der Heijden attributed the crisis to sharp U.S. funding cuts, which are reversing years of progress in fighting child malnutrition.
She emphasized that sudden, unannounced reductions in aid are disrupting essential humanitarian programs.
During recent visits to Ethiopia’s Afar region and Nigeria’s Maiduguri, van der Heijden witnessed the deteriorating conditions firsthand.
She warned that nearly 1.3 million children under five in both countries could lose access to vital treatment if funds are not secured.
In Ethiopia’s Afar region, where droughts and floods frequently threaten food security, only seven of 30 UNICEF-supported mobile health units remain operational due to funding shortages.
These units provide malnutrition treatment, vaccinations, and essential medicines.
The crisis extends beyond Ethiopia and Nigeria, with UNICEF estimating that 213 million children in 146 countries will need humanitarian aid in 2025.
Van der Heijden stressed the importance of preventive measures such as breastfeeding support and micronutrient supplementation alongside emergency interventions.
She urged global governments to act swiftly, warning that delays in funding would increase costs and endanger children’s lives.
“Investing in children’s survival and well-being is not only the right thing to do—it is also the most economically sound choice any government can make,” she said.
