Malnutrition Crisis in Katsina State: Over 652 Children Dead in Six Months

Over 652 children have died from malnutrition in Katsina State in 2025. Learn the causes, impact, and urgent actions needed to save lives.

A visibly malnourished young boy held by his mother in a rural northern Nigerian community.

a malnourished young boy held by his mother

Malnutrition is a silent crisis affecting thousands of Nigerian families every day. In Katsina State, northern Nigeria, the situation has become truly heartbreaking. Between January and June 2025 alone, at least 652 children died due to malnutrition. This alarming number, confirmed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), shows how urgent and serious this crisis has become.

But these deaths are not just about food. They reflect deeper issues insecurity, poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and international funding cuts.

In this article, we explain:

What is happening in Katsina State
Why the malnutrition crisis is getting worse
How families and children are affected
What experts and MSF are saying
What the government and world can do
Simple steps everyone can take to help save lives

This article breaks down the crisis clearly so students, parents, workers, and everyday Nigerians can understand what’s happening and know how to take action.

What is Happening in Katsina State?

The Reality on the Ground

652 children have died from malnutrition in Katsina between January and June 2025.

MSF treated nearly 70,000 malnourished children, with over 10,000 needing hospital care.
Katsina now ranks among the worst-affected states in Nigeria this year.

What Is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition means the body does not get enough food or the right type of food to grow and stay healthy. In children, it can lead to:

Weakness and poor growth
Low immunity and frequent sickness
Difficulty learning
And in serious cases death

Why Are So Many Children Dying?

1. Cuts in International Aid

Big donors like the US, UK, and EU reduced their support in 2025.

This has led to:

Less food aid

Fewer health workers

Shortage of medicine and nutrition packs

2. Insecurity and Bandit Attacks

Violence in rural Katsina has displaced many families:

Farms abandoned
Food production affected
Children forced to live in unsafe camps without enough food or care

3. Weak Nutrition Support

Clinics are overcrowded and under-equipped
Fewer outreach services
Many parents don’t know where to seek help

4. Economic Hardship

High cost of food
Unemployment
Families skipping meals or surviving on very little

How Bad Is It Compared to Before?

According to MSF:

Severe malnutrition cases have increased by 208% compared to early 2024.
The worst form—nutritional oedema (fluid swelling due to lack of protein)—is on the rise.

Stories From Katsina: The Human Face of the Crisis

Families are walking hours to reach clinics, sometimes carrying children too weak to move.
Some mothers have lost two or three children within a few months.
MSF health workers say many children arrive already near death, because families can’t afford transport or are afraid to travel due to insecurity.

What Experts and MSF Are Saying

MSF warns:

“Without urgent action, more children will die.”

They are calling for:

Emergency food supplies
Extra funding
Better outreach to rural areas
Stronger support for local clinics

Experts also say this crisis could spread to other Nigerian states if not addressed.

What Is the Government Doing?

The Nigerian government allocated ₦200 billion (about $130 million) in the 2025 budget to reduce the effects of donor funding cuts.
However, experts warn that this may not be enough given the scale of the crisis.

What Can Be Done to Help?

For Government & NGOs:

Provide ready to use food packs for children
Boost rural clinics with more staff and medicine
Improve security so families can go back home and farm
Educate parents on child nutrition

For Local Communities:

Report sick or malnourished children quickly
Share food and support neighbours if possible
Organize small community feeding support groups

For International Donors & Partners:

Resume or increase funding
Send emergency medical kits, vaccines, and nutrition supplies
Help train health workers on the ground

Where to Get Help in Katsina

If you or someone you know has a malnourished child, you can visit:

MSF Clinics in Jibia, Kankara, and Katsina town
Primary Health Centres in each LGA
Listen to local radio for government helpline updates

Simple Tips for Preventing Malnutrition at Home

Feed children beans, eggs, fish, vegetables, and fruits regularly.
Breastfeed babies exclusively for 6 months before introducing soft, healthy food
Boil or purify drinking water
Keep children clean and take them for health checkups

The situation in Katsina is a real public health emergency. With 652 children dead in six months, we cannot afford to wait.

The government, communities, and international partners must all act fast.
Together, we can provide food, restore hope, and give every Nigerian child a chance to grow strong and healthy.

Let’s not remain silent. Speak up, share this message, support clinics, and demand more action.
Because no child should die simply because they didn’t have enough to eat.

Sources: Al Jazeera (July 2025)