Nigerian children pay price for war as malnutrition and poverty surge

Nigerian children are bearing the brunt of global conflicts and economic instability, with rising rates of malnutrition and poverty intensifying across the country. In Sokoto, a state in northwestern Nigeria, families are struggling to provide basic sustenance for their children amid surging fuel and food prices linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East. According to local health officials and aid workers, the situation has grown dire, with many children being diagnosed with malnutrition multiple times within months. Maryam Aminu, a mother of six in Sokoto, described how her youngest child was diagnosed with malnutrition for the second time in April. Her husband, Shehu Aminu, had recently lost his job as a taxi driver due to the sharp increase in fuel prices, which has made transportation costs prohibitive. “I knew why she got sick again,” she said while sitting in her modest home, where the scent of burning coal filled the air. “We can’t afford regular meals, let alone nutritious ones.” Health professionals in Sokoto say the number of children returning to clinics for malnutrition treatment has increased significantly over the past few months. At a local hospital, records obtained by The Associated Press indicate that nearly 40 children who had previously recovered from malnutrition are now undergoing treatment again. Many others remain undocumented, suggesting the true scale of the problem may be even greater. The crisis is compounded by broader economic challenges in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which included removing fuel subsidies and devaluing the naira, led to high inflation. A recent World Bank report estimated that 139 million Nigerians are now either poor or at risk of falling into poverty. Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East has disrupted global supply chains, particularly affecting the availability and cost of essential goods such as fertilizers and fuel. Fuel prices in Nigeria have skyrocketed, jumping from 800 naira per liter in February to 1,400 naira by April. This surge has rippled through the economy, raising the cost of food and other necessities. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for oil and gas, further exacerbated the situation, contributing to a global fuel shortage that has driven up prices worldwide. UNICEF has issued warnings about the potential impact of continued conflict in the Middle East. A recent report suggested that up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty by the end of the year, with the majority located in Africa and Asia. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized that children are paying the price for the escalating conflict, both within and outside the region. Russell highlighted the long-term risks facing children in impoverished households. “Their development will be compromised,” she said during a visit to Sokoto. “They are less likely to stay in school because their parents are under so much financial stress.” The threat to agricultural production, due to rising fertilizer costs and disruptions in planting seasons, adds another layer of uncertainty for rural communities reliant on farming. Efforts to address the crisis are ongoing, but the scale of the challenge remains daunting. Health workers in Sokoto expressed concern over the growing number of cases they are encountering. Halimah Muhammad, a local health worker, admitted feeling both worried and frustrated by the situation. “I am worried and sometimes angry about the increasing numbers we are seeing,” she said. As the war in the Middle East shows no signs of abating, the outlook for Nigerian children remains bleak. With no immediate resolution in sight, the struggle for survival continues, leaving families to grapple with the harsh realities of economic instability and global conflict.