Rising Hunger in Kebbi Pushes Families into Desperate Struggle for Child Nutrition

Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria — Health workers and humanitarian groups in Kebbi State are raising alarm over a sharp increase in malnutrition among young children, with many families forced to travel long distances for basic treatment and support.

Medical teams report that thousands of children are arriving at clinics in critical condition as food insecurity and poverty strain household resources. Many caregivers walk dozens of kilometres to reach nutrition centres, highlighting the challenges faced by rural communities with limited services.

Local treatment facilities have been stretched to capacity, with some days seeing hundreds of children requiring care for severe acute malnutrition. Health workers emphasize that without steady supplies of therapeutic food and broader support, more young lives could be at risk.

The situation reflects wider concerns about food access and cost across northern Nigeria, where ongoing economic pressures have made balanced diets increasingly difficult for many families to afford.