The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has given $5.5 million to promote life-saving nutrition efforts in Pakistan in response to the chronic child malnutrition and rising global food prices.
The number of children in Pakistan’s flood-affected districts who are physically weak has increased significantly, according to the UN, and certain locations had already reached an emergency level before the floods.
Almost one-third of children aged 6 to 23 months were moderately malnourished, and 14% were severely malnourished, which is life-threatening for youngsters, according to an emergency survey done in 15 impacted areas. There are more girls than boys among the affected children.
The number of children who were physically weak had already reached an emergency level, according to Julian Harness, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, but the situation that is currently occurring in numerous settlements is alarming.
While expressing gratitude to the international community for the support provided thus far, he stated that much more must be done to guarantee that the increasing number of children at risk of dying have urgent access to food and care.
The government must assist in addressing this food crisis, according to the resident coordinator, since it could result in dangerous and catastrophic losses for millions of children as well as for Pakistan’s future.
More than 80% of the US$ 6.5 million that were received from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) would go towards emergency food and food security measures, according to Julien Harness.
As part of the government-led flood response, this additional sum of US$5.5 million would assist UNICEF, the World Food Organisation, the World Health Organisation, and several NGOs in emergency food operations in the most vulnerable districts of Balochistan and Sindh. being delivered OCHA, the UN agency for humanitarian operations
Only a third of the food-related operations outlined in the flood response plan have so far gotten money, according to the UN. More money is urgently needed for the early identification, prevention, and treatment of malnutrition through concerted efforts in numerous villages and medical facilities.
There is an urgent need to step up efforts to improve the availability and accessibility of nourishing meals in order to safeguard kids from physical weakness.
Around 800,000 individuals have received life-saving aid since the climatic calamity that struck Pakistan last year, thanks to the leadership of the Pakistani government and the cooperation of NGOs and UN organisations, but there are still endless needs that need to be met.
