US war on Iran drives hunger crisis for Nigerian children, aid workers warn

SOKOTO, Nigeria (MNTV) — The humanitarian fallout from the United States’ war on Iran is pushing vulnerable children in northern Nigeria deeper into hunger and poverty, with health workers reporting a sharp increase in malnutrition as soaring fuel and food prices devastate struggling households.

Medical staff and aid organizations in Sokoto State say growing numbers of children who had previously recovered from malnutrition are now returning to clinics after relapsing, blaming the worsening crisis on the global economic shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.

Among them is 18-month-old Farisa, who was diagnosed with severe malnutrition for the second time after her family could no longer afford regular and nutritious meals.

Talking to Associated Press (AP), her mother, Maryam Aminu, said the family’s financial situation collapsed after her husband lost his job as a taxi driver when fuel prices surged following the outbreak of the war.

She said rising living costs have made it increasingly impossible to provide adequate food for her six children, forcing the family to survive on cheap meals with little nutritional value.

Northern Nigeria, already burdened by widespread poverty, insecurity and years of armed conflict, has been hit particularly hard by the economic consequences of the US-led military escalation against Iran.

According to AP, aid workers say the surge in fuel costs has sharply increased the price of food, transportation and agricultural supplies, worsening food insecurity for millions.

The crisis intensified after instability around the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global energy markets, causing fuel prices to soar. In Nigeria, petrol prices nearly doubled within weeks, triggering steep increases in the cost of food and other basic necessities.

Many families in Sokoto now struggle to afford even the most basic meals. Health workers say hospitals have recorded dozens of cases of children returning for treatment after previously recovering from malnutrition, reflecting the growing inability of households to sustain adequate nutrition.

According to a recent World Bank assessment, around 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty or remain highly vulnerable to falling into it.

UNICEF has also warned that the continuing conflict could push another 23.4 million children worldwide into monetary poverty by the end of the year, with Africa and Asia expected to bear the overwhelming burden.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said children far beyond the battlefield are paying the price for a conflict they had no part in, warning that prolonged economic disruption will have devastating long-term consequences for child health, education and development.

The conflict has also disrupted fertilizer supplies and driven up farming costs, threatening agricultural production across northern Nigeria, where many communities already face insecurity from armed groups and restricted access to farmland.

Parents described the crisis as increasingly unbearable. Many said they are unable to provide sufficient food for their children as incomes disappear and essential goods become unaffordable.

Analysts warn that the economic shock unleashed by the US-led war is compounding Nigeria’s existing humanitarian challenges, leaving millions of already vulnerable families trapped in a cycle of deepening poverty, food insecurity and child malnutrition.