The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stark warning that 1.3 million children under five, suffering from severe acute malnutrition, face the risk of losing access to vital treatment, significantly increasing their mortality risk.
Kitty Palais, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, addressed the situation at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, highlighting the growing impact of reduced international donor contributions on UN agencies, including UNICEF.
Recent years have seen a decline in financial support from global donors. This issue was compounded by a 90-day suspension of foreign aid imposed by the United States, a major contributor, at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in January. Subsequent halts to numerous United States Agency for International Development programs worldwide have jeopardized crucial food and medical aid, disrupting global humanitarian efforts.
Palais noted that significant strides have been made in combating childhood malnutrition over the past 25 years, with a 55 million reduction in stunted children since 2000, representing a one-third decrease. “In 2024, UNICEF and our partners reached 441 million children under five with malnutrition prevention services, and 9.3 million children received treatment for severe wasting and other forms of severe acute malnutrition. This progress was achieved through government efforts and the generosity of donors, including those in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors,” she stated.
“However, these gains are now being reversed due to a severe decline in funding for our life-saving work. The issue extends beyond the sheer volume of reductions; the manner in which they’ve been implemented, often abruptly and without notice, leaves us unable to mitigate the impact on children’s programs,” Palais explained.
She shared firsthand observations from visits to the Afar region in northern Ethiopia and Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria, where funding gaps threaten to deprive nearly 1.3 million severely malnourished children under five of essential treatment this year.
“In Afar, a region prone to recurring droughts and floods, I witnessed mobile health and nutrition teams delivering life-saving services to remote pastoralist communities. These teams are crucial for providing vital assistance, including severe wasting treatment, vaccinations, and essential medicines,” Palais recounted.
She emphasized that without these interventions, children’s lives are at serious risk, as only seven of the 30 UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition units in Afar remain operational due to the funding crisis.
“We project that without new funding, UNICEF will exhaust its supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food by May, impacting approximately 74,500 children in Ethiopia who require monthly treatment. In Nigeria, where around 80,000 children need monthly treatment, we face a similar supply shortage between now and the end of May. It’s crucial to focus not just on RUTF but also on preventative measures, including breastfeeding support, micronutrient supplementation, and access to essential health services,” Palais stressed.
She warned that the funding crisis extends beyond Ethiopia and Nigeria, affecting vulnerable children worldwide. UNICEF anticipates that over 213 million children in 146 countries will require humanitarian aid in 2025.
Despite these challenges, UNICEF remains committed to delivering aid and collaborating with partners to ensure efficient and accountable efforts. “While governments review foreign assistance, I urge leaders to recognize that delayed action harms children and increases costs for everyone. Investing in children’s survival and well-being is not only ethical but also economically sound,” Palais concluded.
