Nigeria: Nigeria's Hunger Crisis Takes an Emotional Toll on Caregivers #WorldFoodDay
[allAfrica] As millions of people across northern Nigeria face severe food insecurity, children continue to bear the consequences of a deepening malnutrition crisis. But the impact is far beyond the children in treatment. This can be a source of significant anxiety, exhaustion, and emotional distress for parents and caregivers, particularly those who spend weeks in the hospital when a child is…
In northern Nigeria, a severe hunger crisis has taken a profound emotional toll on caregivers, particularly parents and family members who spend extended periods in hospitals treating malnourished children. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 34.7 million people in Nigeria face crisis-level food insecurity during the lean season, with over 5.4 million children acutely malnourished.
In 2025, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams provided treatment to 425,634 children suffering from acute malnutrition, a number that has risen by 41.8 percent compared to the previous year.
The crisis is most acute in Nigeria's northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, where conflict, climate shocks, and displacement have disrupted livelihoods and damaged local food production. This has left an estimated 15,000 people in Borno State at risk of catastrophic hunger. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that ongoing insecurity is worsening hunger by forcing communities to flee their homes, making it difficult for farmers to access their land and restricting the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
MSF's mental health and psychosocial support programs highlight the significant emotional burden carried by caregivers. Child malnutrition often leaves families facing prolonged separation, financial hardships, and the anxiety of watching their children suffer. Caregivers can experience fear, anxiety, guilt, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion, sometimes developing symptoms of depression.
The emotional stress can hinder their ability to follow medical advice, engage in treatment, and care for their children after discharge.
MSF incorporates mental health support into its nutrition programs, providing psychological first aid, individual counseling, group sessions, and caregiver education. These interventions help caregivers cope with their emotional challenges, build resilience, and support their children's recovery. By recognizing and addressing the emotional toll of malnutrition, MSF aims to improve the overall well-being of both children and their caregivers.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
