Life-saving emergency nutrition care to children under 5 in war-torn Yemen
The lives of children in Yemen are marked by poverty, hunger and disease. Drivers of acute malnutrition—conflict, economic decline, and a poor health environment—challenge efforts to end child hunger and malnutrition in Yemen. In 2022, over 2.2 million children under age 5 were projected to suffer from acute malnutrition, 538 000 of whom were expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition and could die if they did not receive urgent treatment. Fortunately, from 2016 to March 2022, 70 009 (21 904 in 2021 alone) of these children were nourished from the brink of death back to health at 110 WHO-supported therapeutic feeding centres (TFCs) across Yemen. The death rate has decreased from around 10% to less than 5% in TFCs. New centres are being established to enhance access to treatment and health services where acute malnutrition is a public health concern.
How did Yemen do it, and how did the WHO Secretariat support Yemen?
WHO provides technical and financial support to sustain essential nutrition services and enhance access to life-saving interventions, including for the most vulnerable populations. WHO support included training of and payment to 1300 health workers, procurement of 1000 pediatric/severe acute malnutrition (SAM) kits and 30 000 admission/water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) kits, 526 000 balanced diet meals to caregivers, and more than 2000 quality assurance field visits. WHO equipped TFCs with 110 solar panels to overcome power supply issues and ensure reliable energy access. These 110 TFCs represent 85% of the total number TFCs in Yemen, which cover 90% of the cluster targeted caseload. Financial support from WHO is around 15 million US dollars per year.
Many Yemeni families struggle to keep their children safe from war, starvation and disease as a result of the ongoing crisis. Admission to WHO-supported TFCs has saved the lives of tens of thousands of under-5 children in Yemen. Hamza, an under-5 child, has brain damage and is unable to speak or walk. Hamza’s life has been further threatened by severe acute malnutrition. After seeking hospital care for Hamza, his mother Amani brought him to the Al Buraikah TFC in Aden. The TFC in Aden, like 109 others spread across war-torn Yemen, is supported by WHO in partnership with donors and other partners. Care was delivered to Hamza’s weak and fragile body just in time. He was treated and nourished from near death and back to health at no cost to his family.
Photo Credit: © WHO
Photo Caption: Hamza during his stay in the TFC.
Three-month-old Naynoor who was brought by her mother to a WHO-supported TFC in Dhamar district, her little body frail and suffering from acute malnutrition. She received treatment in the centre for 12 days.
“She is feeling much better now. She is taking milk and medication regularly. I am thankful her health has improved, and I am glad that my child is being cared for and treated at this centre for free.”
Naynoor’s mother
25-years-old
Vulnerable populations in hard-to-access areas (geographically or inaccessible due to active conflict) are suffering in silence with little to no access to basic and essential health care services. Malnutrition perpetuates vulnerability and illness within families who already lack the necessary resources. Amid prolonged conflict and devastated infrastructure, some families feel helpless as they watch their malnourished children deteriorate and die if they are left untreated.
In one of the least-permissive operational environments possible for humanitarian interventions, with COVID-19 exacerbating the difficulties, WHO and partners continue to fight for the lives of children in Yemen. Gender and child-friendly admission and discharge kits, water, sanitation and hygiene items, as well as meals to caregivers, are essential supplies provided to families. With a focus on increasing availability, access and quality of critical health and nutrition services for mothers and children at TFCs, WHO and other health and nutrition cluster partners provide lifesaving services and supplies to a fragile country.
Photo Credit: © WHO
Photo Caption: A doctor giving the last discharge instructions to the mother of a child who has recovered in a WHO-supported TFC.