Malnutrition Crisis in Nigeria: The Interplay of Climate Change and Armed Conflict

Northeastern Nigeria faces a significant rise in severe malnutrition, especially among children, attributed to climate change and armed conflict. The ICRC reports a 24 percent increase in malnutrition cases over the past year, amid intensified violence and disrupted agricultural practices, affecting millions in the Lake Chad region.

The ongoing crisis in northeastern Nigeria, exacerbated by both climate change and relentless conflict, has precipitated an alarming surge in severe malnutrition cases, particularly among young children. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported a troubling 24 percent increase in malnutrition among children compared to the previous year, highlighting the desperate challenges faced by families in the Lake Chad region to secure food. One poignant example is Rabiatu Jubrilla, who recounted bringing her malnourished son to the ICRC’s Mubi stabilization clinic. “He was healthy when I delivered him, but at 1 year and 9 months old, I stopped breastfeeding him. He began to lose weight,” she shared, illustrating the dire circumstances that lead to such detrimental outcomes. The prolonged armed conflict in the region serves as a principal factor in exacerbating the food crisis, having dislocated millions, obliterated livelihoods, and significantly hindered access to arable land. Paul Ezra, a farmer from Madagali village, lamented, “We don’t have enough farmland. Before, we used to go out in the fields to farm. But now, Boko Haram and other armed groups have taken over the bush.” The escalating violence correlates directly with the rising rates of food insecurity. Yann Bonzon, ICRC’s Nigeria Head of Delegation, indicated that incidents of conflict in the Lake Chad region surged by 58 percent during the first half of 2024, compounding the challenges faced by local communities in agricultural production. Furthermore, heavy dependence on subsistence farming renders the region particularly susceptible to climate change disruptions, such as erratic rainfall patterns, which adversely affect food output. This year, catastrophic flooding destroyed crops and dashed the hopes of many farmers following a brutally dry season. Abubakar Bello Duhu, another local farmer, reported dire consequences of the food crisis, stating, “We have people who fainted and are at the hospital. Others have died because there is not enough to eat.” The ICRC projects that the impact of both armed conflict and climate change will culminate in food shortages for more than six million individuals in the Lake Chad region in the impending months, elucidating the urgent need for humanitarian intervention to alleviate this growing crisis.

The intricacies of the food crisis in Nigeria cannot be divorced from the combined effects of climate change and armed conflict. The Lake Chad basin has long been a site of agricultural activity, yet recent upheavals—both environmental and social—have undermined food security. Climate variability leads to unpredictable weather patterns, while ongoing violence from groups such as Boko Haram has destroyed infrastructure and displaced farming populations. Due to these intertwined crises, families are increasingly unable to provide for their nutritional needs, placing children at particular risk of malnourishment.

In conclusion, the dire situation in northeastern Nigeria underscores the interplay between climate change and armed conflict, drastically increasing malnutrition rates among vulnerable populations. Urgent humanitarian responses are essential to address the immediate food shortages and to foster long-term resilience against climate and conflict-related hardships in the region.

Original Source: www.africanews.com