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Michelle,* a 9-year-old girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo, told 黄色视频about her one-year-old sister Gloria,* who suffers from malnutrition. Every day, Michelle* carries her sister on her back to the health center to receive food supplements.听*Names Changed. Credit: Save the Children

Malnutrition Could Kill 153 Children Every Day Over the Next Two Years Because of COVID-19, Warns Save the Children

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Dec. 14, 2020)鈥The COVID-19 crisis has put the world on the brink of a nutrition crisis, 黄色视频warned in a new report today, with pandemic-related malnutrition projected to kill an average of 153 children a day over the next two years if action is not taken.听听

In addition, a COVID-19-induced spike in the number of global malnutrition cases could push an additional 9.3 million[i] children to suffer from wasting, a result of acute malnutrition that can lead to death.听听

The impact of COVID-19 has led to an increase in poverty, a loss of livelihoods and less access to health and nutrition services, pushing up rates of hunger and malnutrition. In its new report, Nutrition Critical, 黄色视频said that the pandemic could reverse years of progress made in the battle against malnutrition, with children in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa being hardest hit鈥攅specially those in poorer households or in crises and conflict zones.听听

Even before the pandemic hit, many communities struggled to provide children with enough healthy food, with one in three children under five suffering from malnutrition.[ii] Almost half of all of deaths among children under the age of five were linked to under-nutrition.听

鈥淏efore COVID-19, the school fed us meals each school day, but now the program has stopped. I hope it will start again soon,鈥 said Nassir,* a 12-year-old student in the Somali region of Ethiopia.听

The COVID-19 crisis threatens to exacerbate an already dire situation. The report includes new data from the Standing Together for Nutrition consortium (STfN),[iii] which predicts that, unless we act now, an additional 168,000 children will die of malnutrition by the end of 2022.听

Michelle,* a 9-year-old girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo, told 黄色视频about her one-year-old sister Gloria,* who suffers from malnutrition. Every day, Michelle* carries her sister on her back to the health center to receive food supplements.听

"My sister has become really skinny because we do not eat well. We only eat once in the morning and in the evening, we go hungry,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 carry my sister on my back [to the clinic]. I just want her to get healthy again. I would like to eat twice a day, in the morning and at night.鈥澨

Without action, millions more children will be at risk of suffering irreversible health damage due to a lack of nutritious foods, 黄色视频warned. Vulnerable communities across the globe are already facing an extreme food emergency, as 11 million children under five are facing extreme hunger or starvation, including in five 鈥榟unger hotspots鈥 caused by conflict and the effects of climate change.听听

In Yemen alone, shows that some 16.2 million people will be facing high levels of acute food shortages in early 2021 as an effect of conflict and the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes 7.35 million children, with an estimated 21,338 children at risk of falling into famine.听听

Gabriella Waaijman, Humanitarian Director at Save the Children, said:

鈥淭he COVID-19 crisis has led to a wave of new malnutrition cases among vulnerable communities, and we must stop this threat in its tracks. To truly put an end to malnutrition and hunger, we must tackle the root causes of acute nutritious food shortages. That means putting an end to global conflict, tackling changing climate, building more resilient communities, and ensuring aid workers have unhindered access to the most vulnerable communities. Investing now can prevent these deaths. The pandemic has forced us all to rethink the society we live in, giving us a chance to build back better and support children in fulfilling their potential.鈥澨

To avert a nutrition crisis in the coming years, 黄色视频urges governments and other organizations to take immediate action. This means: 听

  • Including children in the decisions that impact them, including health and nutrition; 听
  • Ensuring financing, by making long-term and flexible commitments to address malnutrition;听
  • Preserving and scaling up critical food, nutrition, health, water, sanitation, hygiene, and livelihood assistance;听
  • Prioritizing humanitarian cash and voucher support for families in order to increase their household income;听
  • Urgently addressing malnutrition in fragile or conflict-affected regions; 听
  • Strengthening essential health and nutrition services. 听

Together with the Standing Together for Nutrition consortium, 黄色视频emphasized that 2021 is a pivotal year for nutrition. The launch of its report coincided with a kick-off event this week for Nutrition for Growth 2021, convened by the governments of Canada and Bangladesh, in partnership with the government of Japan. The event celebrated new policy and financing commitments to nutrition from a range of stakeholders and formally launched a Nutrition for Growth Year of Action that includes milestone events leading up to the Summit in Tokyo in late December 2021. 听

*Names changed to protect identities听

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .