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Surge in Yemen’s Child Malnutrition as Funding Falls Short

Surge in Yemen’s Child Malnutrition as Funding Falls Short
folder_openYemen access_time3 years ago
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By Staff, Islamic Relief

The number of malnourished children admitted to nutrition centers in Yemen has almost doubled in the past three months, after the crisis escalated as international governments cut vital humanitarian funding.

The centers have also seen an 80% increase in malnourished pregnant women and new mothers seeking help.

After six years of conflict, more than half of Yemen's population is facing severe food shortages.

Despite the huge needs, this month's high-level international pledging conference for Yemen raised less than half of the money needed and several big donors cut their funding.

The rise in malnutrition has led to a rise in other severe health problems, yet hospitals are critically short of medicine, fuel and doctors. Many medical staff no longer receive salaries and are working voluntarily for 14-16 hours a day.

The UN is warning that child malnutrition is at the highest level of the conflict so far, with 2.3 million children under-5 at risk of acute malnutrition and 400,000 at risk of severe malnutrition.

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