The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) has issued a stark warning about the dire situation faced by over 500,000 young children in Zimbabwe, who are living in severe food poverty.
According to Unicef’s latest report, the number of children under the age of five who are affected by severe acute malnutrition has increased significantly, with many families struggling to access basic necessities such as food, clean water, and healthcare.
Many families are forced to rely on alternative sources of food, such as wild fruits and leaves, which can be contaminated with toxins and other harmful substances. As a result, many children are at risk of contracting diseases, such as malaria and cholera.
In Zimbabwe, less than one in ten children consume a daily diet containing five or more food groups, with the frequency required to ensure optimal growth and development.
The UNICEF report highlights a concerning link – that children living in severe food poverty are up to 50 per cent more likely to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition.
In-line with Zimbabwe’s Nutrition Narrative, the Government of Zimbabwe with UNICEF and other partners, is implementing activities, under the Multi-Sectoral Food and Nutrition Security Strategy, to improve children’s diet diversity and prevent all forms of malnutrition.
“Food insecurity among Zimbabwean children could further deteriorate in 2024 with the El Nino induced drought that has caused above-average temperatures and below average rainfall, with a ‘historic’ mid-season dry spell over the 2023/2024 agricultural season,” said Doctor Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, “It is urgent to address child food poverty today to avoid more children being pushed into a life-threatening status of severe malnutrition.”
Dr Alipui also added that : “To scale up community-based nutrition activities, additional support is needed from Government, development and humanitarian partners, national and international civil society and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.”
Community-based nutrition programmes addressing child food poverty among the children of Zimbabwe are essential to deliver nutritious, safe and affordable foods and essential nutrition services for children throughout the country
SOURCE : NEWSREPORT ZIM.COM
