Nutrition Response to Famine Risks – Save the Children 2022-23

February 2022 – Prior to the onset of COVID-19 humanitarian needs including those related to food security and nutrition had already reached unprecedented levels. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation by disrupting food production supply and distribution; destabilizing food prices; and reducing country and consumer purchasing power exacerbating undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ethiopia Sudan Syria and Yemen. UNICEF reported in January 2021 a 30% overall reduction in 2020 in the coverage of essential nutrition services including school feeding micronutrient supplementation and nutrition promotion programmes in Low-to-Middle-Income Countries. It is estimated that in 2022 COVID-19 could result in an additional 2.6 million stunted (under-height) children 9.8 million wasted (under-weight) children 168 000 additional child-deaths and 2.1 million maternal anemia cases globally. With GAC’s support Save the Children is providing a multi-sectoral response to acute malnutrition needs in the DRC Ethiopia Sudan Syria and Yemen. Project activities include: (1) providing community outreach and clinical activities aimed at the prevention identification and treatment of acute malnutrition; as well as complementary (2) providing water sanitation and hygiene support; and (3) providing protection services to lessen the impact of the nutrition crises in the beneficiary communities by addressing underlying vulnerability factors that have exacerbated them.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) reduced rates of acute malnutrition; (2) improved access to safe water and sanitation; and (3) reduced vulnerability amongst crisis-affected populations at risk of famine in the DRC Ethiopia Sudan Syria and Yemen. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.