WUNRN
“Children remain the most
vulnerable in terms of food insecurity and malnutrition in
Yemen - Hunger & Malnutrition for 10
Million, Especially Children - UN Survey - GIRLS
In
2013, WFP provided preventative nutrition support for 325,000 children under
two, nutrition treatment for 200,000 children under five, and nutrition support
for 157,00 pregnant and nursing mothers. Photo: WFP/Fares Khoailed15 July 2014 – A new United
Nations survey has found that over 10 million Yemenis – more than 40 per cent
of the population – do not know where their next meal will come from.
The Comprehensive Food Security
Survey, conducted by the UN World Food Programme (WFP)
and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), shows
that Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates in
The agencies said around five
million people were found to be severely food insecure, suffering from levels
of hunger where external food assistance is generally required, and the
prevalence of chronic malnutrition among children under the age of five is
beyond the international benchmark of “critical.”
Levels of food insecurity showed
a slight decline from 45 per cent to 41 per cent, since the last similar survey
in 2011, but there were huge variations among different governorates.
In the northern governorate of
Sa’ada, almost 70 per cent of people were food insecure, compared with fewer
than 10 per cent in Al Mahra in the east. Rural areas are worst affected,
according to the survey, which is usually held every two years.
Similar disparities are evident
in malnutrition rates in different parts of the country, with GAM rates ranging
from critical, denoting an emergency, in the western coastal governorates of
Taiz, Hodeidah and Hajja, to serious or poor in almost all other governorates.
“I am saddened by these
continuing high rates. WFP’s new operation, which will feed six million people,
aims to address the problem,” said
WFP Yemen Country Director Bishow Parajuli. “We are now focusing more on
building sustainable livelihoods and resilience, so that people are able to
help themselves.”
Mr. Parajuli added that food
insecurity had an impact on the stability of the country, which has been
undergoing a democratic transition. “For the political process to succeed,
people need to be able to live normal lives and not have to worry about where
their next meal is coming from.”
Twelve governorates have
critical levels of stunting, a condition caused by chronic malnutrition in
which children fail to grow properly over time and never reach their physical
and mental potential.
“Children remain the most
vulnerable in terms of food insecurity and malnutrition in
He added that UNICEF will
continue to partner with WFP in ensuring a coordinated response to address severe
and moderate acute malnutrition, especially in areas of greatest need.
______________________________________________________________________________________
WUNRN
http://www.wunrn.com
MAMA, I'M HUNGRY
Mama, I'm hungry
My tummy hurts, also at night,
My hair and skin are now so dry.
I am only 8 years old.
My baby brother cries.
He is hungry, too.
You say your milk has stopped.
You need food and safe water.
Daddy died some months ago.
Villagers say he killed himself.
There were so many debts.
He tried to buy food for us.
You say I can't go to school.
I want to be a teacher.
You send me work with bricks.
I am so tired, so very hungry.
The men look at me strangely.
They offer me food, candy.
They are rude. I am afraid.
But I am so hungry, Mama.
You married off my big sister
Now one less mouth to feed here.
But I know she's not happy.
Her eyes are sad and full of fear.
Mama, I'm cold at night alot.
I want food to keep me warm.
To cover me, you give me paper.
The hunger pangs won't let me sleep.
Will we lose our house as well?
Without home and land, can we
survive?
I am so very hungry, Mama.
Can we really stay alive?
Will I grow up? I am not so sure.
I get very sick. I cannot play.
You talk about the big city.
But where there would we stay?
I have hopes and I have dreams.
They seem so far away.
Like our food, dreams disappear.
I can only hope and pray.
Mama, I'm Hungry!
WUNRN
___________________________