A ‘Wonder Food’ Shortage Looms Over Africa, Putting Millions of Children at Risk
A ‘Wonder Food’ Shortage Looms Over Africa, Putting Millions of Children at Risk
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In a striking report, Save the Children has warned that a global collapse in nutrition funding is on the verge of causing a severe shortage of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a critical emergency aid, in at least four African countries, Reliefweb.int reported. This looming crisis threatens the lives of millions of severely malnourished children.
RUTF is a high-energy, nutrient-rich paste essential for treating severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Its long shelf life and lack of need for refrigeration make it a crucial tool in humanitarian crises. The organization emphasizes that a severely undernourished child is nine times more likely to die from common infections than a healthy one.
The situation is most critical in Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan. In Nigeria, 3.5 million children under five are at risk, with only 64% of the RUTF needed for the lean season secured. Kenya anticipates its stocks will run out in October, having only met 77% of its needs. In Somalia, nearly half of all children under five are at risk of malnutrition, but only 39% of the required funding has been received. In South Sudan, the number of children with acute malnutrition has surged to 2.3 million, and only one-third of them have received treatment due to funding-related facility closures.
Globally, the funding shortfall is projected to cut off treatment for 15.6 million people, including over 2.3 million severely malnourished children, in 2025. The aid agency is urging the international community to provide increased, flexible funding and strengthen supply chains to ensure that these children receive the urgent support they need to survive.
