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MALI: Acute malnutrition remains high despite slight improvements, with significant deterioration expected from June to October 2026
Key results
Acute malnutrition in Mali is expected to decline by 29 percent compared to last year, but levels remain high with 1.12 million children aged 6–59 months and 91,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women estimated to suffer from acute malnutrition between November 2025 and October 2026. This includes 227,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM)—a 46 percent reduction compared to last year, attributed to targeted response efforts in areas previously classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). In the current period (November 2025–May 2026), 18 areas are classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious). Continued and scaled-up humanitarian assistance is crucial to prevent further deterioration and save lives.
Inadequate child dietary intake remains a key driver and is characterised by low dietary diversity and meal frequency. The situation is exacerbated by a high burden of childhood diseases, including malaria and diarrhoea, alongside poor infant and young child feeding practices. Furthermore, volatile insecurity and population displacement continue to constrain nutrition-sensitive services, particularly in the Kayes, Sikasso, and Koulikoro regions.
During the projection period (June–October 2026), the situation will likely deteriorate significantly. 32 areas of analysis are expected to deteriorate, including nine units shifting from IPC AMN Phase 3 into IPC AMN Phase 4, which is characterised by widespread child wasting as well as death from preventable diseases This is of particular concern in the Ménaka, Kayes, Koulikoro, Mopti, Tombouctou, and Gao regions.