The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of €15 million (approximately US$16.9 million) from the Federal Republic of Germany to help WFP treat and prevent moderate malnutrition among more than 660,000 children under five, and pregnant and nursing mothers.
Thanks to the German contribution, treatment will be provided to nearly 292,000 moderately malnourished children under five years old and 204,000 malnourished pregnant and nursing mothers. Some 170,000 children under two years old, who are at risk of malnutrition, will receive preventive assistance.
A report published this month, shows that the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) is at an alarming stage in most Yemeni governorates. The report – Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) – classified nine out of Yemen’s 22 governorates as facing food insecurity at ‘Emergency’ level. This is a level of need that is one step away from famine and requires urgent food assistance.
“WFP is grateful for Germany’s significant donation, which is critical to ensuring that WFP continues to support women and children at risk of malnutrition,” said WFP Country Director in Yemen Purnima Kashyap. “Child malnutrition rates in Yemen have already been among the highest in the world even before the conflict. Around half of all children under five are stunted – too short for their age – as a result of malnutrition; the consequences of which are irreversible. Providing treatment and preventing malnutrition saves an entire generation and improves the country’s future prospects.”
Working in cooperation with 14 partners, WFP prioritizes 14 governorates across Yemen for nutrition interventions including all those at the “Emergency” level of hunger.
Germany has been consistently among top donors to WFP Yemen. The recent contribution is essential to provide continuous and substantial assistance, to fight food insecurity and malnutrition, and to reduce families’ vulnerability to future shocks.
