The European Union (EU) has allocated N900 million to help fight malnutrition in some states in Northern Nigeria.

The EU made the commitment on Friday in a statement by Modestus Chukwulaka, the spokesperson for its embassy in Abuja.

Mr Chukwulaka listed the states as Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

He said the gesture was in response to the alarming level of malnutrition cases in the region.

According to him, the fund is for humanitarian aid to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from acute malnutrition.

Mr Chukwulaka said the fund would enable the Nigerian Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in the affected states and other parts of the country.

“The aid will specifically support lifesaving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment. Community outreach and screening will be integrated with outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases.

“This will be done by using ready-to-use therapeutic food, while the most complex cases will be referred to health centres for specialised care, all in accordance with national health protocols.

“The Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of the affected families and intensifying efforts in water protection, sanitation and hygiene.

“This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),” he said.

He said Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in the North-East, and Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states in the North-West had an estimated 5.44 million children under five who are acutely malnourished.

According to him, two million children require lifesaving treatment as a result of severe acute malnutrition. He said malnutrition was worsening as a result of conflict and growing insecurity.

“This has led to prolonged displacement, a loss of livelihoods, and a significant reduction in vulnerable families’ access to essential healthcare services,” he added.

He said the situation was further compounded by economic pressures and climate-related shocks such as flooding, as well as suboptimal maternal and child feeding practices.

The EU and its member states are the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the EU helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year.

With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU assists the most vulnerable people based on their humanitarian needs.

(NAN)