An estimated 1.7 million children aged from 6 to 59 months face acute malnutrition between January and December 2024, including 430,000 who are likely to be severely malnourished. Overall, the analysis findings shows that high levels of acute malnutrition persist in many areas.

Of the 50 population groups included in the 2023 Deyr analysis, IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical) was observed in 20 population groups. Additionally, 17 population groups were classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious), while the remaining 13 population groups were classified in IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) Despite funding constraints and scaling down, humanitarian assistance has continued to play a critical role in preventing the worsening of food security and nutrition outcomes in many areas throughout 2023. However, high levels of food insecurity and acute malnutrition will persist through at least mid-2024 if additional funding is not secured to scale up and sustain humanitarian assistance. 

Response Priorities: 

• Targeted delivery of life-saving humanitarian support: need to continue providing care for wasting services for both severe and moderate forms in vulnerable women and children, specifically for children in hard-to-reach areas and minority groups. 
• Prioritise malnutrition prevention interventions: The nutrition response needs to priorities viable malnutrition prevention initiatives (e.g. food-based approaches) in vulnerable groups, children, women, and adolescents. The response needs to balance the delivery of life-saving services with sustainability.
• Expand access to basic WASH services: the recent El Nino floods which affected many parts of the country, has contributed to increasing morbidity and the risk is still high. A deliberate need to continue offering humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene services, with plans to link with development and sustainable WASH services.
• Sustain and scale-up basic health services across the country in particular measles vaccination and vitamin A supplementation which is suboptimal in many parts of the country.
• Scale-up targeted mass screening and referral using Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and working with Cluster Partners in malnutrition hotspot areas and densely populated IDPs for early identification, referral to appropriate care and treatment.