Yemen remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with an estimated 21.6 million people needing humanitarian assistance or protection in 2023 ( 72 % of the total population ). The lack of access to food and hygiene supplies implies a population at high risk of malnutrition, as Yemen’s rising global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates – now estimated at 20%—surpass emergency thresholds for serious public health concern. As conflict drives malnutrition and economic decline, the risk of death for children under the age of 5 has increased; and while overall malnutrition grew by 10% in 2020, Severe Acute Malnutrition rates rose by 15.5%, placing 98,000 children under the age of 5 at high risk of death.
The prolonged conflict has severely impacted the country’s economy, leading to macroeconomic instability, depreciation of the Yemeni rial (YER), and decreased household purchasing power. Moreover, Yemen’s heavy reliance on imported food and goods makes it highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices. The crisis in Ukraine has further exacerbated global food insecurity, contributing to increased food prices in Yemeni markets.
MOAS #MissionOfHope in Yemen
To respond to this tragic humanitarian emergency, since 2019 MOAS has been providing specialist malnutrition treatments to vulnerable children in Yemen, with the ongoing support of our partners, Edesia Nutrition and our in-country partner ADRA Yemen.
Early this year, our refrigerated shipment of 26 tonnes of nutritional supplements reached the country and was distributed to families in need in three governorates situated in Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) territories. The shipment included nutritional supplies to children under the age of 5 and pregnant and lactating women (PLWs) with varying forms of malnutrition.
The undernourished children were identified, referred to healthcare facilities, and enrolled in the therapeutic program, where they were provided with RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food) and RUSF (Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food) to treat their malnutrition.
Thanks to this delivery, it was possible to help young children like Bashir or Anas. They were admitted to in-patient care services, with many families having to travel long distances to reach the centers for treatment. When the parents were asked about their hopes and dreams for their child’s future, they unanimously hoped that their children could be a healthy weight, as they all bore witness to their child’s deteriorating health due to malnutrition.
Bashir was 7 months old when he was admitted to the hospital to receive malnutrition treatment delivered by MOAS to Adra. His weight had been dropping and he was sick due to insufficient nutrition. After receiving the course of treatment, his weight improved from severe acute malnutrition and started to eat RUSF to gain more weight.
These children deserve to live full and healthy lives, while the global community needs to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis and help build food supplies in-country, we also need to continue providing malnutrition treatment for children like Bashir, who have already been impacted by food insecurity.
What nutritional supplements were distributed?
Plumpy’Sup® is a ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) which is given alongside normal foods as part of a treatment regime for Moderate Acute Malnutrition for children 6 months and older. Plumpy’Sup is commonly part of targeted feeding supplementation programs and is frequently used in emergency situations. It’s important to remember that RUSF is not meant to replace a child’s diet but to supplement it with necessary micro- and macro-nutrients for recovery. Once the children recover, they can go back to a normal daily diet.
Plumpy’Doz® is a ready-to-use food in paste form with a peanut taste and is used for the prevention of Acute Malnutrition. It is a lipid-based nutrient supplement that provides nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. It’s usually part of a blanket supplementary treatment program for children at risk of acute malnutrition during times of food insecurity for children 6 months and older.
Enov’Nutributter is a lipid-based nutrient supplement- that contains a special formulation of minerals and nutrients for the promotion of growth and prevention of stunting for children from 6-24 months of age.
Final thoughts
MOAS will continue to work and collaborate with our partners to provide life-saving nutritional supplies and aid to the most vulnerable communities in need of humanitarian assistance. To save lives and avert a further worsening of the situation, MOAS needs your support to keep on with the nutrition deliveries for children suffering from malnutrition.
You can make a difference and help us to continue this life-saving mission.
Give what you can now: https://www.moas.eu/donate/