Over 3.7 Million Face Hunger in Northeast Nigeria, Says Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised fresh concern over a deepening food crisis in Nigeria’s northeast, warning that over 3.7 million people in the region are currently food insecure due to protracted conflict.

In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, ICRC spokesperson Aliyu Dawobe confirmed that many of those affected were previously self-sufficient farmers, now cut off from their land and livelihoods as violence continues to displace families and cripple local food systems.

According to Diana Japaridze, Head of the ICRC’s Maiduguri sub-delegation, the lean season, a time when households typically rely on purchased food, is worsening conditions dramatically.

“Families are being forced to drastically reduce their food intake. The impact is particularly harsh on children under five, pregnant women, and nursing mothers,” Japaridze stated. 

To cushion the crisis, the ICRC is scaling up support for malnutrition stabilization centres and offering community health education focused on the care of vulnerable children.

Additionally, a comprehensive agricultural support programme is underway to help restore food production and strengthen community resilience.

• Over 21,000 farming households have already received region-specific seeds for rice, maize, tomato, and okra, along with essential farming tools.

• The project supports both rainy and dry season farming and includes training in sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term impact.

• In partnership with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), the ICRC also rehabilitated a key water supply facility to enable year-round seed testing and greenhouse operations.

While these interventions have brought some relief, widespread hunger persists. Many families remain unable to afford food or recover from the shocks of displacement and insecurity.

“Even with ongoing aid, the lean season brings severe hardship for thousands,” Japaridze admitted.

The ICRC continues to call for sustained humanitarian access and long-term solutions to address the root causes of food insecurity in Nigeria’s conflict-hit northeast.