At least four African countries are on the brink of running out of life-saving therapeutic food for severely malnourished children within the next three months, according to Save the Children.
The international charity warned that Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan are facing critical shortages of high-energy biscuits, peanut-based Plumpy’Nut paste, and other Ready-to-Use Foods (RUTF).
These treatments are essential for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
How Aid Reductions Affect Life-Saving Therapeutic Food?
Yvonne Arunga, Save the Children’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said:
“At a time when global hunger is skyrocketing, the funding that could save children’s lives has been cut.”
Although the organization did not name specific donors, recent cuts in humanitarian assistance from the US and other Western nations have played a significant role in the crisis.
As a result, some clinics are already resorting to less-effective treatments for malnourished children.
Kenya and the Horn of Africa at Risk
In Kenya alone, an estimated 2.8 million people experienced high levels of food insecurity during this year’s March-to-May rainy season. Supplies of RUTF are expected to run out by October.
Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan face similar shortages, with stocks projected to be depleted within the next three months.
Global Consequences of Funding Cuts
Save the Children estimates that 15.6 million people across 18 countries could lose access to nutritional treatment in 2025 due to aid cuts.
This includes at least 2.3 million severely malnourished children.
Earlier this year, U.S. cuts left 60,000 to 66,000 metric tonnes of food aid stranded in warehouses, including 1,100 tonnes of fortified biscuits.
While 600 tonnes were later released to the UN World Food Programme, nearly 500 tonnes had already expired and had to be destroyed.
Partial Relief Measures Announced
Despite reductions, the U.S. State Department recently pledged $93 million to provide RUTF supplies for more than 800,000 children in 13 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A Worsening Crisis Without Urgent Action
With malnutrition rates soaring across Africa, humanitarian groups warn that millions of children remain at risk unless urgent funding and aid deliveries resume.
For many families in drought- and conflict-affected regions, therapeutic food remains the only lifeline preventing child deaths.
