Horn of Africa: Children Main Victims of The Famine

Malnutrition or undernutrition? Actually it would be clinically more accurate to describe the physical condition of children and adults suffering from famine, to evoke an undernutrition. However, “the international humanitarian community uses the word malnutrition in decades. The term GAM Global Acute Malnutrition in (extreme global malnutrition) corresponds to a scale in the food crisis to which we refer, “explains Lynnda Kiess, nutrition expert for the World Food Programme (WFP). Ultimately, the health risks of these little ones are real.

“In the short term, starvation makes these children more vulnerable to disease. And of course it increases the risk of mortality, “said she. And in these small, periods of illness are long and persistent. “An episode of diarrhea in children well fed, usually lasts two or three days. Then he heals. A malnourished child may suffer from diarrhea for one or even two weeks. And if he does not die, malnutrition reduces its ability to recover. Similarly, illness prevented him from eating properly again. It’s a vicious circle. “

When these children do not die of hunger, therefore, their general health was permanently damaged. “Their growth is impacted. Cognitive development and immune systems is also hindered. ” These serious health problems also apply to unborn children whose mothers were malnourished during pregnancy. “They have a higher risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.”

Nutritional needs massive

A child needs a lot more nutritional than an adult. This is especially true when it develops in the womb until the age of 2. “We call this phase the ‘window of opportunity’. It takes about 1000 days, “said Lynnda Kiess. If the child is suffering from famine at that time, growth, cognitive development and immune systems may be severely compromised.

“It is urgent to provide these children with adequate food and quality, so they can recuperate,” insists our specialist. However, these foods should be presented in a very compact form. Indeed, “the stomach of the child naturally has a capacity lower than that of an adult. In the case of a little malnourished, this finding is even more true. ” Humanitarian organizations, WFP and specialized companies have developed and improved food supplements for these emergencies. Rich in vitamins and minerals, these products meet important nutritional needs of toddlers in extreme cases of malnutrition.

Emergency Solutions

Among the innovations that have been well developed, a French product is at the forefront. This is the Plumpy’sup ®. “This type of product ready for use is increasingly offered over the past ten years. It has many advantages compared to foods such as porridge – to be prepared with water – we distribute for nearly 30 years, “said Lynnda Kiess. “They are ready to use, just tear a bag. They do not require any cooking, which is essential for people in transit. They are moisturizing and developed oil-based, they keep very long time without risk of bacterial contamination. These foods bear the heat and only one bag is enough to feed a child for one day. ” However, there may still be necessary and preferable to offer other products of dietary supplementation with certain populations. “People used to eat porridge. Food ready for use are further from their customs, “adds she.

If children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, the food crisis is not just the young. Famine threat to 11.3 million people in the Horn of Africa, where malnutrition rates are particularly high among Somali refugees. These cross borders Kenya and Ethiopia in large groups, to escape famine and political instability in their country.