Aid organisations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), have issued urgent warnings about a worsening hunger crisis in Nigeria, saying hundreds of thousands of children could die as international funding collapses.
The worst-hit areas are in northern Nigeria, where years of conflict have displaced millions.
“There are millions who still rely on our help,” said Ancel Kats, WFP’s representative in Nigeria. “But the funding is simply not coming”.
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Until earlier this year, the United States accounted for more than half of Nigeria’s humanitarian aid. However, a few weeks after assuming office, President Donald Trump dissolved USAID, triggering massive aid cuts.
Several other Western governments followed by reducing their development assistance, worsening the crisis.
As a result, the WFP has shut down over 150 malnutrition clinics nationwide and now faces a $115 million funding gap.
In Bama, Borno State, food distributions have been drastically reduced, with aid now limited to the most vulnerable families.
“They depend entirely on WFP for food,” said Soumbami Tukunabo of InterSOS, an Italian aid agency. “It’s heartbreaking to tell them we’re cutting down because of global funding shortages”.
Beyond food relief, Nigeria has also lost about $600 million in health sector funding, nearly 20% of its total health budget, since the withdrawal of U.S. support.
Aid organisations warn that the combined impact of these cuts could push millions deeper into hunger and poverty, unless urgent global funding is restored.
Story credit: Arise News TV
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