Between November 2023 to October 2024 nearly 400,000 children aged 6 to 59 months are facing or expected to face acute malnutrition, including nearly 147,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition, and 248,000 cases of moderate acute malnutrition. It is also estimated that more than 12,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are facing or expected to face acute malnutrition over the same period.

The IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis was conducted on 45 analysis units (AU) including the 32 departments (Adamaoua (AD), East (ES), Far North (EN), North (NO), North-West ( NW), South-West (SW), the 4 regions (Center (CE), Littoral (LT), West (OU), South (SU), 4 convergence municipalities (in Adamaoua: Djohong, Meiganga and beyond). East: Mandjou, Garoua-Boulaï) as well as 5 AU on refugees from the Central African Republic (Off-Site NO/AD/ES and in AD+ES Sites). 

Regarding severity, during the current period (November 2023 to February 2024), considered a low period of acute malnutrition, two departments are in a Critical situation (IPC AMN Phase 4), and two others are classified in a Serious situation (IPC AMN Phase 3). 

For the projected situation, (March to June 2024), a significant deterioration of the situation is expected. Three departments are likely to move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 and four departments from Phase 2 to Phase 3. The rest of the 39 units of analysis remain in the same phases. 

For the second projected period (July to October 2024), it is expected that the nutritional situation will degrade further, reflecting the seasonality of acute malnutrition, particularly in the north (Far North and North). 

In regions and departments classified as Serious and above (IPC Phase 3 and above), in particular areas housing refugees and internally displaced populations, urgent and early interventions are needed to reverse the trends of acute malnutrition:

Short term:

• Strengthen interventions for the prevention and management of acute malnutrition: screening, referral and treatment early caseload. This includes community screening by the CHW or the mother/father, community care of cases of MAM, nutritional education of women/parents in the community on infant and young child feeding; improvement of IYCF coverage and essential nutrition actions
• Intensify preventive activities such as routine EPI vaccination; vitamin A supplementation, supplementation women and adolescents with iron, folic acid as well as deworming of children
• Strengthen surveillance of childhood diseases (malaria, measles, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections)

Medium and long term:

• Strengthen the resilience of populations by implementing activities to empower women and young people sensitive to nutrition at the community level
• Strengthen the implementation of nutrition-sensitive interventions: agriculture, livestock, fishing
• Promote/Support the production of local food and fruit crops with high nutritional value to improve the diet food and nutritional status of vulnerable resident populations as well as refugees and IDPs.