Over 34,000 children aged 6-59 months are suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition between January and December 2025, including 7,700 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Over 2,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women (PBW) are also suffering or expected to suffer elevated levels of acute malnutrition in the same period.

The current situation (January -July 2025) shows that nine out of 15 analysed areas are currently classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 or above, compared to 11 during the same period in 2024. Rural areas are more severely affected, with Obock and Tadjourah rural zones in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). Several urban areas and refugee camps—Markazi and Holl-Holl—are in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious), while six units are in IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert), and no area is in IPC AMN Phase 1 (Acceptable).

The situation is expected to worsen during the projected period (August–December 2025), with five areas in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical), seven in Phase 3 (Serious), and two in Phase 2 (Alert). Six areas are expected to deteriorate to a higher phase, including key urban zones and refugee camps. Populations in Rural Obock and Tadjourah will likely remain facing Critical conditions.

• Advocate for increased funding for nutrition in order to scale up nutrition interventions, particularly in areas classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 or above.
• Immediately strengthen the coverage and quality of acute malnutrition treatment to urgently reduce the number of children and pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition.
• Reinforce the prevention of morbidities (such as diarrhoea and fever) and epidemic-prone diseases (such as measles).
• Promote and support the rehabilitation of traditional latrines into modern/adequate latrines in rural areas.
• Further promote the multisectoral response related to the provision of quality basic social services, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food, health, social protection, etc.) to protect vulnerable populations and meet their basic needs.
• Conduct a nutrition survey to update the IPC AMN analysis and strengthen nutrition monitoring and early warning systems.