It is projected that nearly 1.5 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from June 2022 – May 2023. This is 19% higher than the cases forecasted in 2021. This figure includes 367,000 cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) - an increase of 16% compared to last year’s estimate. Between June and October 2022, malnutrition levels were in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical) in five areas: Gao, Andermboukane and Tidermene (in the Ménéaka region) and those of Baroueli and Tominian (in the Ségou region) as well as the IDPs of Bamako and Mopti. 28 areas are in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious) and they include all the areas in the regions of Kayes, Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu, Taoudénit, two areas in the region of Ménaka and three areas in the region of Ségou. In IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) there are 26 areas including the all the areas in the regions of Koulikoro, Sikasso and Kidal, all the communes in the district of Bamako, one area in Ménaka, four areas in Ségou and the IDPs in Gao.

Between November 2022 and May 2023, the five areas previously classified as Critical (IPC AMN Phase 4) - Gao, Anderamboukane, Baroueli and Tominian and the IDP sites Bamako and Mopti will likely improve to Serious (IPC AMN Phase 3). However, it is projected that the area of Tidermene could remain in a Critical situation. This will be determined by immediate causes such as insufficient food intake and morbidities.

The main contributing factors to the acute malnutrition – primarily in the areas classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 or above – are inadequate food intake by children, both from a qualitative (dietary diversity) and quantitative (frequency of meals) point of view; the food insecurity, especially in the regions of Gao, Timbuktu, as well as for the areas of Anderboukane (Menaka) Bandiagara, Djenné, Douentza and Koro (Mopti). Childhood diseases such as diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARI) and malaria as well as nonadapted breastfeeding and care practices play a major role in determining acute malnutrition as well.