East Africa is facing a worsening nutrition emergency as international aid cuts threaten the supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) a critical lifeline for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan, health systems are bracing for stockouts as early as October, forcing clinics to improvise with less effective alternatives.

RUTF, a simple peanut-based paste fortified with vitamins, has been hailed as a breakthrough in child survival, helping millions recover from malnutrition within weeks. Without it, recovery rates plummet and child mortality soars. Aid group Save the Children warns that 2.3 million children across 18 countries are at immediate risk, with a total of 15.6 million people facing disruptions to nutritional support.

Health experts argue that the crisis reflects deeper inequities in global funding priorities. While conflicts elsewhere attract donor attention, Africa’s most vulnerable children risk becoming the forgotten casualties of austerity.