Malnutrition children U5yr & PLW in Yemen

For more than five years since the eruption of the conflict, Yemeni people have continued to suffer from the severe economic decline and the brunt of ongoing hostilities. In addition, changes in the frontlines and the collapsing essential public services have taken a massive toll on the Yemeni population, exacerbating chronic vulnerabilities. The health care system continues to be a victim of Yemen's conflict where poverty, hunger and unsafe drinking water have taken their toll. The already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen has been exacerbated by successive outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and diphtheria.

With no end in sight to the conflict, the economic crisis, disease and displacement, the situation of Yemeni children and families is set to worsen, with an anticipated 24 million people, half of them children,  (80 per cent of the population) in need of humanitarian assistance, protection and basic health care assistance.  It is further stated that 10 million people require food aid to survive and that seven million are malnourished which makes the situation in Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

These huge needs come at a time when the health system is on the brink of collapse. Half the health facilities have either been partially damaged or completely destroyed by conflict, and health workers have not been paid in the last years. Medicines and medical equipment are in short supply. Outbreaks of epidemic and water-borne diseases such as cholera and diphtheria, and recently the outbreak of Covid-19 show how precarious public health is in the current situation.

One of the health problems is malnutrition which is really considered a critical risk in Yemen.  Good nutrition and access to adequate food remains a challenge to child survival. Consensus exists over the immediate causes of malnutrition and food insecurity in Yemen, which include poverty, illiteracy, low availability of clean water supplies, low levels of breastfeeding, and dependence on imported grain as a staple. The conflict in Yemen, which plays a clear role in aggravating malnutrition, has

escalated dramatically since nearly five years ago and is compounding an already severe protracted humanitarian crisis. So, conflict and insecurity remain the main drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition that have pushed the most vulnerable households to the brink of famine.

With a vital role, SORD raised its project which is entitled: " Save lives 3025 children U5yr & 1,360 PLW in Yemen". 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. During the first quarter of 2020, children  under 5 and PLWs suffering from acute malnutrition 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 achievements of the project can be found in the following attached file:

• Save_lives_3025_children_U5yr__1360_PLW_in_Yemen.pdf (PDF)