ICRC warns of deepening hunger crisis in North-East Nigeria

Summary

• Over 3.7 million people face severe food insecurity in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, says ICRC
• Armed conflict, displacement, and economic hardship continue to cripple farming and food access
• Malnutrition among children and pregnant women on the rise as families struggle to afford food
• ICRC supports 21,000 farming households with seeds, tools, and sustainable agriculture training

Maiduguri, Nigeria — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised alarm over a worsening food crisis in North-East Nigeria, where more than 3.7 million people are currently facing severe food insecurity.

The humanitarian body said on Tuesday that ongoing armed conflict and displacement in states like Borno, Adamawa and Yobe have forced families off their farmland, restricted food production, and undermined livelihoods.

The situation has been further worsened by the lean season, when household food reserves typically run low, and by soaring food prices—Nigeria’s food inflation reached 40.9% in June 2024.

The ICRC said families are now struggling to buy food when they need it most, with many resorting to selling firewood or trekking long distances to farm under dangerous conditions.

As hunger intensifies, malnutrition is surging, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. In response, the ICRC is supporting malnutrition stabilisation centres and running community nutrition education initiatives.

To address the root causes of the crisis, the organisation has rolled out an agricultural assistance programme, providing over 21,000 farming households with seeds, such as rice, maize, tomatoes and okra, alongside essential tools and training in sustainable farming practices.

The ICRC has also partnered with Nigeria’s National Agricultural Seed Council to repair water sources used in seed testing.

With local leaders warning of worsening shortages and increasing vulnerability, the ICRC is calling for sustained national and international support to tackle both the urgent food needs and the long-term drivers of hunger, including insecurity, economic shocks and climate-related events like flooding.