More than 2 mln children in Yemen face acute malnutrition: UNICEF

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Mar 2023 22:50
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UNICEF warned that more than two million malnourished children are at risk of death if they do not receive urgent care.

A malnourished boy is placed on a scale at the Hays Rural Hospital in Hodeida, Yemen, Oct. 11, 2022 (AP Photo/Hussam Al-Bakry)

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that over two million children in Yemen are facing acute malnourishment and are in need of urgent medical care.

#Malnutrition is robbing millions of children in #Yemen of their health & potential. With 2.2 mil children acutely malnourished & +540,000 suffering from severe acute #malnutrition, we must act urgently to provide the necessary #therapeutic care. pic.twitter.com/IdTM1iifGr
— UNICEF Yemen (@UNICEF_Yemen) March 11, 2023

In June of last year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that hunger in Yemen has reached its highest level since 2015, noting that "more than 19 million people are going hungry, including more than 160,000 on the verge of famine."

"Funding cuts are hampering our ability to help people in need. Last December, the World Food Programme was forced to reduce food rations for 8 million people due to funding gaps and had to introduce another round of cuts last month," the UN body indicated.

The UN's lack of funds in Yemen threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis further in the country, particularly after the announcement of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, who said in late February that the UN succeeded in collecting a mere $1.2 billion as part of a UN plan requiring at least $4.3 billion that Yemen needs in 2023.

Thank you for 31 generous pledges announced today, totalling $1.2 billion for #Yemen.

Last year, we saw progress in the path for peace. This improved the daily lives of Yemenis and helped humanitarian access.

Peace is our principal hope for 2023.
— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 27, 2023