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

Opinion

Broken promises

Broken promises

Perhaps the biggest impediment to the successful mainstreaming of ex-Fata and its development has been the lack of funding.

Editorial

Wake-up call
Updated 09 Nov, 2024

Wake-up call

Pakistan must heed UN's wake-up call and bring its laws and practices in line with its international human rights obligations.
Foreign banks’ exit
09 Nov, 2024

Foreign banks’ exit

WHY are foreign banks leaving Pakistan? In the last couple of decades, we have seen a number of global banking...
Kurram protest
09 Nov, 2024

Kurram protest

FED up with the state’s apathy towards their plight, the people of Kurram tribal district took to the streets on...
IHK resolution
Updated 08 Nov, 2024

IHK resolution

If the BJP administration were to listen to Kashmiris, it could pave the way for the resumption of the political process in IHK.
Climate realities
08 Nov, 2024

Climate realities

THE Air Quality Index in Lahore once again shot past the 1,000-level mark on Wednesday morning, registering at an...
Rule by fear
08 Nov, 2024

Rule by fear

THE abduction of an opposition MNA, as claimed by PTI, is yet another grim episode in Pakistan’s ongoing crisis of...