On Tuesday, UNICEF warned that nearly two million children worldwide are suffering from the deadliest form of malnutrition, known as severe acute malnutrition referred to as severe wasting. The organization said that these children are at an enhanced risk of death. Due to a severe lack of life-saving Ready to Use Therapeutic Food- RUTF 12 countries, including Pakistan.
This is compounded by the increased demand for RUTF in Pakistan. UNICEF says it could run out of supplies by mid-2025, with many children going untreated. Other countries under threat include Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Sudan, Madagascar, South Sudan, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda. Already on this list are countries such as Mali and Nigeria reporting RUTF shortages.
Wasting in children below the age of five is a serious problem in most countries. A child becomes wasted if he or she does not consume enough nutritious food. Or also suffers from repeated illnesses that leave his or her body extremely thin. The immune systems of wasted children are weak, which leaves them more exposed to growth failure, deficiency in development, and even death.
Victor Aguayo, UNICEF’s Director of Child Nutrition and Development, stressed the urgent action required to save these children’s lives. He further added that without immediate steps, the situation will worsen. “Over the past two years, an unprecedented global response has helped to scale up nutrition programs. That reduce child wasting and prevent deaths in countries suffering from conflict, climate change, and economic adversity,” said Aguayo. “But we need urgent action now to save the lives of nearly two million children who are fighting this silent killer.“
In the face of this concern, UNICEF also calls for $165 million in funding for the continuation of therapeutic feeding, treatment. And care among children most at risk due to the shortage of RUTF. In the absence of such funding, many children will be deprived of desperately needed treatment.
UNICEF’s 2022 “No Time to Waste Acceleration Plan” sought to address the nutrition of almost 8 million children. In 15 affected countries, the organization emphasized the urgent need for much more support. Without this, vulnerable children will remain at risk of the most devastating forms of malnutrition.
The situation in these countries is acute, and UNICEF asks the international community for an urgent response. Without immediate action and funding, the lives of millions of children are under threat.
ANI