Protecting children in Yemen from forms of violenc

Yemen has long battled with some of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Until now, humanitarian interventions to treat and prevent malnutrition, as well as provide emergency food assistance, have prevented an even more severe deterioration. But in 2020, these hard-won gains are being lost. Escalating conflict and economic decline, plus the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has pushed an already exhausted population to the brink. In addition to this, many aid projects including emergency food assistance and WASH services have been disrupted by funding shortfalls. Malnutrition treatment programmes are also at risk if additional funds are not received soon.

Severe acute malnutrition, the most extreme form of hunger, is a life-threatening condition requiring urgent treatment. It also significantly weakens children’s immune systems, which often means any additional medical complications or infections prove deadly.

Drivers of malnutrition in Yemen worsened in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic, economic decline, floods, escalating armed conflict and significant underfunding of this year’s global appeal for aid to Yemen have raised the spectre of widespread severe hunger or even famine after almost six years of war.

Nutrition and other services that keep millions from starvation and disease are gradually closing across Yemen amid an acute funding shortage this year.

The life of children in Yemen is marked by poverty, hunger and disease. In 2020, 2 million Yemeni children suffer from acute malnutrition, including nearly 320 000 from who suffer severe acute malnutrition, of whom up to 10% may end up with severe medical complications with a 90% chance of death, if not treated.

Malnutrition causes many chronic diseases that will affect children suffering from various types of malnutrition in the future. Children living in villages in Yemen and displaced children are most vulnerable to malnutrition and chronic diseases due to the simple nutritional and health status in which these children live.

With a vital role, Sanid Organization for Relief and Development (SORD) raised its project which is entitled: " Protecting 1469 Yemeni children from malnutrition". The proposed project aims at contributing to the reduction of mortality and morbidity associated with acute malnutrition to children under 5, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the targeted areas that have high acute malnutrition rates. To achieve this overall objective, SORD has been providing nutrition assistance to children and pregnant and lactating women (PLW) to prevent and treat malnutrition.

Throughout the year 2020, SORD has been supplying children under 5 and PLWs suffering from acute malnutrition with the proper nutrition supplementary. Community awareness have been raised among the pregnant women ,lactating mothers and Girls of childbearing age regarding the evils of malnutrition, both for child and mother. Hundreds of children and tens of PLW have been treated during 2020 and we are expecting more success to be achieved in 2021.

Again and again and over again, we are expressing our gratitude and millions of thank to our generous donors who are the milestone of hope for Yemeni children. Your grants will never ever be in vain. Many thanks to all those helped in implementing the project, staff, health workers and volunteers.    

The humanitarian situation in Yemen is extremely fragile and any disruption in the pipeline of critical supplies such as food, fuel and medicines has the potential to bring millions of people closer to starvation and death. The current level of hunger in Yemen is unprecedented and is causing severe hardship for millions of people. Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, over 20 million Yemenis are food insecure, of which nearly 10 million are acutely food insecure. The rate of child malnutrition is one of the highest in the world and the nutrition situation continues to deteriorate. A recent survey showed that almost one third of families have gaps in their diets, and hardly ever consume foods like pulses, vegetables, fruit, dairy products or meat. Malnutrition rates among women and children in Yemen remain among the highest in the world, with more than a million women and 2 million children requiring treatment for acute malnutrition. More than half of all families are buying food on credit, up by almost 50 percent compared to pre-crisis levels. Salary payments for public sector employees have been suspended since September 2016, affecting nearly 30 percent of the Yemeni population who depend on government salaries and pensions. Though the situation of nutrition in Yemen is so dark, a glimmer of hope looms on the horizons which enables Yemenis to overcome their sufferings. It is the generous hands supporting the needy people to access the basic needs of life. Sanid Organization for Relief and Development (SORD) , with all funds reached from the donors, always tries to reduce the rate of malnutrition in the targeted areas where this project is implemented. During the second quarter of 2020, children under 5 and PLWs suffering from acute malnutrition in Ablas area have been supplied with the proper nutrition supplementary. Community awareness have been raised among the pregnant women ,lactating mothers and Girls of childbearing age regarding the evils of malnutrition, both for child and mother, the importance of good nutrition for the mental and physical well-being, and how to use the available resources In order to overcome or reduce malnutrition. More details about the results achieved from this project can be found in the attached file:

• AUGEST_Report_on_Protecting_1469_Yemeni_children_from_malnutrition.pdf (PDF)