Health workers in northern Nigeria are reporting a concerning rise in children relapsing into malnutrition, a trend they attribute to the far-reaching economic consequences of the ongoing war in the Middle East. For families like that of Maryam Aminu in the quiet town of Kware, Sokoto, the situation has become increasingly dire. In April, her 18-month-old child was diagnosed with malnutrition for the second time. Aminu, who struggles to provide consistent meals for her six children, said she was sad and angry because she understood the cause of the illness. Living in an unvarnished two-bedroom house, she described how the family's situation deteriorated after February, when her husband, Shehu Aminu, lost his job as a taxi driver due to a spike in retail petrol prices caused by the war in Iran.
The economic hardship is widespread across northern Nigeria, a region already under pressure from an insurgency crisis. Now, the conflict in the Middle East has worsened food security for millions of people living in poverty. This is occurring alongside President Bola Tinubu’s vast economic reforms, which included the removal of fuel subsidies three years ago and the devaluation of the currency, sparking high inflation. A World Bank technical report released this week stated that 139 million Nigerians are now poor or vulnerable to poverty.
The global fuel shock, triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passed before the war—has sent a ripple effect across the globe. In Nigeria, fuel pump prices jumped from 800 naira ($0.58) per liter in February to 1,400 naira ($1.02) in April, driving up the costs of groceries, fertilizer, and transportation. U.S. President Donald Trump has been attempting to force Iran to reopen the route for months, utilizing strategies ranging from airstrikes and naval blockades to negotiations and threats.
In Sokoto, health workers told The Associated Press that they are seeing more children returning to health facilities this year after falling back into malnutrition. Records from a hospital in the state show nearly 40 children previously treated for malnutrition since February are currently under treatment again, not including those who remain undocumented. Health worker Halimah Muhammad expressed her worry and anger regarding the increasing numbers of children she sees in the facility. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, who visited Sokoto this week, warned that the long-term implications for these children are severe, noting that their development will be compromised and they are less likely to stay in school due to parental financial stress.
UNICEF reported this week that if the war in the Middle East continues, up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty by the end of the year, with at least 80% of those cases located in Africa and Asia. "Children are paying the price for the escalating conflict in the Middle East, including children far beyond the region," Russell stated. The war has also impacted fertilizer supplies and prices, threatening the planting season for farming communities in northern Nigeria that already struggle to access their land due to attacks by bandit groups and Islamist militants.
For Shehu Aminu, the daily reality is a struggle to provide basic sustenance. He noted that 2,000 naira used to buy a nutritious meal for his entire family, but now 5,000 naira is required for the same amount. Their meals consist mostly of pap, a corn pudding, and rice. Another mother, 35-year-old Larai Malami, has seen her infant diagnosed with malnutrition twice since the child's birth in December. Her family has struggled since her husband lost his job as a motorcycle rider and moved to neighboring Niger to find work. Malami remains worried that the high cost of fuel and food means her child might never fully recover, a sentiment echoed by Maryam Aminu, who said she wishes her child could be excited and full of life.
