Children in northern Nigeria are experiencing a surge in malnutrition and poverty, with health workers attributing the worsening crisis in part to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The war has triggered a global fuel shock, driving up prices for essential goods and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
Maryam Aminu, a mother in Sokoto, Nigeria, recently witnessed her 18-month-old child diagnosed with malnutrition for the second time. Her family's economic struggles intensified after February when her husband, Shehu Aminu, lost his taxi driver job due to a sharp increase in petrol prices. "Times are tough, and the food is not consistent," she stated.
This situation is increasingly common in northern Nigeria, a region already grappling with an insurgency. Aid workers report that the conflict in the Middle East has further compromised food security for millions living in poverty.
The global fuel price spike, initiated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a vital oil and gas transit route – has had far-reaching consequences. In Nigeria, fuel pump prices escalated from 800 naira ($0.58) per liter in February to 1,400 naira ($1.02) in April, leading to a subsequent rise in the cost of food and other necessities. This economic pressure is compounded by President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, which included the removal of fuel subsidies and currency devaluation, contributing to high inflation.
A recent United Nations children's agency UNICEF report warned that the escalating conflict could push up to 23.4 million additional children into monetary poverty by the end of the year, with at least 80% affected in Africa and Asia. "Children are paying the price for the escalating conflict in the Middle East, including children far beyond the region," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "The longer this continues, the worse the consequences will be."
Health facilities in Sokoto have observed a rise in children returning for malnutrition treatment. Records show nearly 40 children previously treated since February are now back under care. "I am worried and sometimes angry about the increasing numbers we are seeing," said local health worker Halimah Muhammad.
The long-term implications for children are dire. UNICEF noted that soaring prices and economic hardship increase the likelihood of long-term developmental issues, reduced school attendance, and compromised overall well-being for children in impoverished households.
Furthermore, the conflict has impacted fertilizer supplies and prices, threatening the agricultural planting season for communities in northern Nigeria who already face challenges accessing their farmlands due to ongoing violence from armed groups.
Families like Larai Malami's, a mother of 10, are struggling to provide adequate nutrition for their children. Her infant has already been diagnosed with malnutrition twice since birth in December. Her husband has crossed into neighboring Niger in search of work, partly due to the sustained high food prices.
Analysts suggest that the distant war exacerbates the existing vulnerabilities in the region. "This distant war offers no relief for the north’s vulnerable," said Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM Intelligence.