War in the Middle East linked to rising child malnutrition in Africa

Key Points:

• The war in Iran has caused a spike in global fuel prices, leading to increased food and living costs in northern Nigeria, exacerbating malnutrition among children in the region.
• In Sokoto, Nigeria, many children previously treated for malnutrition have relapsed due to economic hardships following fuel price hikes and inflation linked to both the Middle East conflict and Nigeria’s economic reforms.
• UNICEF warns that continued conflict in the Middle East could push up to 23.4 million additional children into monetary poverty worldwide by the end of the year, with severe long-term developmental impacts.
• Northern Nigeria’s vulnerable populations face compounded challenges from local insurgencies, rising food prices, and disrupted agricultural inputs like fertilizer, worsening food insecurity and poverty.
• Families like Maryam Aminu’s and Larai Malami’s struggle to provide adequate nutrition for their children amid job losses and soaring costs, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region.