Maputo – Mozambique is suffering not only from violence, insecurity, crime, and political instability, but also from a food crisis of “enormous proportions.” A recent study by the United Nations Children’s Fund shows that an estimated 100,000 children under the age of five will require treatment for severe acute malnutrition this year. Meanwhile, the situation for internally displaced persons in Cabo Delgado and other areas is critical. “Mozambique is facing a food crisis of enormous proportions and has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. Acute malnutrition remains a serious problem, affecting 4% of children, including severe cases that are immediately life-threatening,” the UN agency stated.
The emergency is exacerbated by cuts in development aid, which directly impact the supply of nutritional supplements, medicines, and the necessary logistics for vital nutrition and health programs to those most affected. “Mozambique is among the 22 priority countries for the supply of ready-to-use therapeutic food and currently has an 18% deficit in the financial resources needed to meet all anticipated needs,” according to the document sent to Fides.
Furthermore, the UN relief agency already raised the alarm on April 17 about the numerous difficulties in supporting one million flood victims in Mozambique , half of whom are children and urgently require water, sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, education, child protection, and financial assistance.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.