From January to December 2023, 33,000 children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including more than 5,500 severe cases. More than 2,900 pregnant and breastfeeding women will suffer from acute malnutrition.

In the current period (January to July 2023) which is the low period for acute malnutrition, two of the seven towns analysed - Obock and Dikhil - will be in Serious (IPC AMN Phase 3). Of the five rural areas analysed, Obock is in IPC AMN Phase 4, Critical and Tadjourah and Ali Sabieh are in Phase 3. The Markazi refugee camp is also in Phase 3.

For the projected period (August to December 2023), which corresponds to a peak period for acute malnutrition, a deterioration in the nutritional situation is expected. The rural areas of Dikhil and Arta  will move to IPC AMN Phase 3, Serious and Tadjourah will be in Phase 4, Critical. The main contributing factor to the acute malnutrition situation is the high and recurrent prevalence of acute food insecurity at household level, which is reflected in inadequate quantity and quality of household food intake, quality of children's food intake through dietary diversity and infrequent meals.

• Improve the coverage and quality of treatment for acute malnutrition in order to urgently reduce the number of children and pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition.
• Improve the routine data collection and nutrition survey system.
• Carry out nutritional awareness-raising and training activities to increase the consumption of diversified foods and good cooking practices in refugee camps.
• Support and strengthen nutritional care, awareness-raising and nutritional training activities in order to increase dietary diversification, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
• For refugees, continue actions aimed at facilitating their access to quality food, in sufficient quantity, and strengthen their local integration through support for resilience-building activities.