ISLAMABAD: Globally nearly two million children suffering from severe wasting, also known as acute malnutrition, are at risk of death due to funding shortages for life-saving Ready-to-use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) to treat wasting, Unicef warned on Tuesday.

It stated that Pakistan is included in 12 hardest-hit countries along with Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Sudan, Madagascar, Kenya, South Sudan, Congo and Uganda.

This year, only 262,000 severely wasted children in Pakistan (one third of those in need) have received lifesaving RUTF treatment. The current supply of RUTF in Pakistan is projected to end in March 2025, threatening ongoing treatment efforts.

According to a statement, levels of severe wasting in children under five years remain gravely high in several countries, fueled by conflict, economic shocks and climate crises.

Pakistan included in 12 hardest-hit countries

“In the past two years an unprecedented global response has allowed the scale-up of nutrition programmes to contain child wasting and its associated mortality in countries severely affected by conflict, climate and economic shocks, and the resulting maternal and child nutrition crisis,” said Unicef Director of Child Nutrition and Development Victor Aguayo.

“But urgent action is needed now to save the lives of nearly two million children who are fighting this silent killer.”

It is estimated that funding shortages for RUTF are leaving nearly two million children at risk of not receiving treatment in the 12 hardest-hit countries. Mali, Nigeria, Niger and Chad are either already experiencing or imminently facing stockouts of RUTF, while Pakistan, Cameroon, Sudan, Madagascar, South Sudan, Kenya, Congo and Uganda could run out of stock by mid-2025.

This year, only 262,000 severely wasted children in Pakistan (one third of those in need) have received lifesaving RUTF treatment (as of August 2024). The current supply in Pakistan is projected to end in March 2025, threatening ongoing treatment efforts.

“The urgency of replenishing RUTF stocks cannot be overstated, as it is vital for the survival and recovery of severely malnourished children. Immediate action and sustained support are imperative to address this crisis effectively,” said Abdullah Fadil, Unicef Representative in Pakistan.

“Ensuring a steady supply of RUTF and enhancing prevention and treatment programmes in high-risk areas will be crucial to mitigate the impact of severe wasting, save lives and safeguard the health and future of Pakistan’s youngest and most vulnerable population,” he added.

Unicef is calling for $11.9 million to address the immediate funding shortfall to procure 300,000 cartons of RUTF in Pakistan as part of this global appeal.

It is calling for $165 million in a renewed No Time to Waste 2024 Update and Call to Urgent Action, to fund therapeutic feeding, treatment and care for the two million children at risk of death due to critical shortages of RUTF.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024