Karamoja region faces rising child malnutrition crisis

The number of children facing acute malnutrition in Uganda’s northeastern Karamoja region is expected to rise by 25% by October, according to warnings from Save the Children. Data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that the number of malnourished children has increased from 122,100 to 154,200 since June.

Approximately 38,800 of these children are suffering or are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a critical condition requiring urgent medical treatment. The crisis is being driven by food insecurity, poor rainfall, and crop failures linked to El Niño-induced dry spells.

Karamoja, which has a population of roughly 1.6 million, is facing significant pressure on household livelihoods. Humanitarian officials have noted that the deteriorating situation is already impacting health facilities as more children arrive in need of nutritional support.