A civil society organisation, the Gender Educators and Empowerment Initiative (GEEI), has raised concerns over what it describes as an alarming increase in cases of malnutrition among women and children living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across Northwest Nigeria.
The organisation made the call in a statement issued by its Founder/Executive Lead, Shafa’atu Suleiman, as part of activities to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026,
It urged urgent and coordinated interventions to address the worsening humanitarian situation affecting displaced populations in the region.
According to GEEI, persistent insecurity and armed conflicts across several states in the Northwest have forced thousands of families to flee their homes, leaving behind their farms, livelihoods and social support systems.
The group noted that the impact of displacement has been particularly severe on women and children who now face heightened risks of hunger, poor health and limited access to essential services in IDP camps.
“Recent field observations and humanitarian assessments indicate a disturbing rise in cases of acute malnutrition among women and young children living in displacement camps,” the organisation said.
It attributed the trend to limited access to nutritious food, inadequate maternal healthcare services, poor sanitation conditions and the psychological stress associated with prolonged displacement.
The organisation further stressed that investing in women’s health, nutrition, education, and economic empowerment remains critical to building resilient communities.
“Supporting women has transformative benefits for families and societies. When women are empowered, communities thrive,” the statement added.
GEEI warned that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition in displacement settings due to irregular humanitarian support and limited access to maternal and child healthcare services.
The organisation called for targeted interventions, including supplementary feeding programmes, prenatal healthcare services, and nutrition counselling for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
Beyond immediate humanitarian aid, the group advocated long-term investments in programmes that strengthen the resilience and economic independence of displaced women.
Such initiatives, it said, should include vocational training, small business grants, and agricultural recovery programmes aimed at restoring livelihoods lost due to conflict and displacement.
GEEI reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for vulnerable women and girls while working with partners to expand access to nutrition, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for displaced populations.
