Millions of children in Africa are facing a life-threatening hunger crisis as international aid cuts leave food and medical supplies dangerously low, according to Save the Children and other humanitarian organizations.
Four countries—Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan—are especially affected. These countries are running out of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a special high-nutrient paste that treats severe malnutrition in children. It does not require refrigeration and is critical for survival.
Without this life-saving food, millions of children under the age of five could die within months. In Nigeria alone, 3.5 million children with severe acute malnutrition are now at risk.
“Imagine being a parent whose child is severely malnourished, and the only treatment that can save them is no longer available,” said Yvonne Arunga, Save the Children’s regional director.
The situation has worsened since the United Nations announced major program cuts in June 2025, calling it “the deepest funding cuts ever to hit the humanitarian sector.” UN aid chief Tom Fletcher described the crisis as a “triage of human survival,” saying that while some lives may be saved, many will be lost due to lack of resources.
The cuts are largely due to reduced international funding, especially from the United States, United Kingdom, and several European countries. In July, the US Congress slashed foreign aid by $8 billion as part of a cost-cutting effort led by President Donald Trump.
As a result, organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) report alarming statistics. In the first half of 2025 alone, 652 children died from malnutrition at MSF facilities in northern Nigeria because of delayed care and food shortages.
“These budget cuts are not just numbers—they are costing children’s lives,” said Ahmed Aldikhari, MSF’s Nigeria representative.
In northwestern Kenya, staff at Save the Children clinics are struggling to keep up. Sister Winnie, who runs one clinic in Turkana, said they’re now forced to borrow food from other facilities to treat children in urgent need.
“If they are not supported soon, I fear we will lose them,” she said.
Kenya needs at least 105,000 cartons of RUTF through the end of 2025. So far, only 79,000 cartons have been secured. Stocks are expected to run out by October.
Globally, over 2.3 million severely malnourished children in 18 countries are at risk of losing treatment this year. Save the Children warns that 2026 may be even worse if funding isn’t restored.
