In a significant shift in US foreign policy, the United States has approved $32.5 million in humanitarian aid to support Nigeria in responding to a worsening hunger crisis in its conflict-affected northern regions. The funding, announced by the US Mission to Nigeria, signals renewed US engagement after a period of largely suspended aid under the previous administration.
The aid is earmarked for delivery through the World Food Programme (WFP) and targets 764,205 vulnerable Nigerians, especially internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the Northeast and Northwest.
More than 41,500 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls will receive specialized nutritional support via electronic food vouchers, alongside 43,235 children, aiming to shield these high-risk groups from the worst impacts of malnutrition.
Northern Nigeria is grappling with an “unprecedented hunger crisis,” according to WFP’s regional director. Conflict and deep funding cuts have forced the closure of 150 nutrition clinics in Borno State, with over 1.3 million people projected to lose access to food assistance.
This emergency comes amid broader humanitarian breakdowns: USAID’s aid programs have been largely dismantled—over 90% of foreign aid contracts canceled—and the WFP has scaled back operations across West and Central Africa due to funding shortages. Food stocks were expected to be exhausted by September.
Escalating insecurity—including insurgency in the Northeast and violent clashes in the Northwest and North-Central regions—has intensified the crisis, displacing more than 2 million people and leaving countless families without stable food sources.
The US’s renewed support arrives at a critical juncture, offering much-needed relief—but humanitarian bodies warn that sustained, long-term funding and robust strategies are essential to reverse the crisis and rebuild resilience among affected communities.
