MSF reports rising malnutrition in DRC and Chad

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is reporting a significant rise in malnutrition cases across parts of Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad.

In North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, MSF treated more than 33,000 patients for malnutrition between January and August 2026. The organization attributes this crisis to ongoing conflict and displacement, which prevents families from accessing fields and livelihoods. Insecurity on roads has further complicated the supply of food and therapeutic medicines. MSF is providing intensive therapeutic nutrition and outpatient care in several health zones, including Mweso, Walikale, and Masisi.

In southeastern Chad, malnutrition is also escalating. At the Am Timan hospital, admissions for malnutrition surged by 77% between January and June 2026. This spike is driven by poor harvests, flooding, and the depletion of food reserves during the lean season. MSF is working to implement rapid screening and treatment to prevent emergency hospitalizations as food insecurity worsens in the Salamat province.