Children facing extreme hunger crisis put at risk by aid cuts as clinics close
Recent cuts in foreign aid have forced children to save life-saving plans for malnutrition, with 131 million reportedly living in areas with acute global crisis.
As foreign aid cuts cuts, health workers are fighting remote corners of the winter, and health workers are fighting malnourished children, the rescuers say.
For three and a half years, Dr. Hanif* and his team at A Save Save Save The clinic supported by children in northern Afghanistan has been the only lifeline for the community – providing necessary care to 2,500 patients per month. Now, clinics remain open only with limited emergency funds to help children. In a few weeks, the clinic could disappear – depriving hundreds of malnourished children without access to the care they desperately need.
“Our clinic is the only option in this community. There are no local doctors or nurses here.” Dr. Hanif said. “The community is deeply frustrated (being laid off). Currently, we have 135 malnourished children receiving treatment (the clinic). If the clinic is closed, their families will not be able to afford to bring them to public or private clinics because they cannot pay for shipping to the nearest clinic. Doctors and nurses have promised to guarantee work in a much-needed situation in our country that requires four to five months, and without these basic services, the community will not be able to survive without these basic services.. ”
The Child Rights Group said recent foreign aid cuts forced children to suspend life-saving plans for malnutrition because 131 million children reportedly live in areas with an acute food crisis around the world.
In Afghanistan, the loss of funds has led to the closure of 18 healthcare facilities supported by Save Children and their partners. Only 14 Save Children Clinics have enough funds to open for another month, and without new financial support, they will be forced to close. In January alone, the 32 clinics supported more than 134,000 children.
Governments around the world are cutting foreign aid budgets, and around 40 countries have suddenly stopped foreign aid in the United States in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. These cuts threaten the health, nutrition and education programs of millions of children with children, and have been forced to close hundreds of medical facilities and nutrition centers to provide life-saving care for children.
Gabriella Waaijman, chief operating officer of Save Children International, said:
“We have saved children for over 100 years, which is why we exist and why we should be in our name. With more children in need of assistance than ever before, cutting off lifesaving support is like trying to put out wildfires with hoses that run out of water.”
Children like Sahar*, who were born in the Gaza War, face extreme risks of hunger and malnutrition due to soaring food prices and already severely lacking access to lifesaving assistance.
When the war began, Sahar’s mother, 24, was pregnant. She did not receive adequate medical assistance during childbirth and worked hard to buy food for her daughter.
“The war gave everything – I ended up having to beg in the street and just buy clothes for her. I don’t know how I survived. No food,” Zainab said. “She is malnourished and I can’t buy her milk. But I found out that I saved the kids and they helped me.”
In Gaza, almost all 1.1 million children face severe food insecurity, and aid cuts mean reducing treatment and services for malnutrition children, and 10 mothers and children are shutting down, and children who save children are providing important nutritional assistance to pregnant women and newborns.
Every minute, about 35 children Born from hunger. Economic instability, conflict and climate shocks are driving the global hunger crisis, which hinders children’s growth, damages their development and weakens their immune systems.
Children with malnutrition are 11 times more likely to die from common childhood diseases and diseases.
Somalia families are facing the same horrible situation due to cuts in aid budget. Somalia has been on the frontline of the climate crisis for decades, which has exacerbated extreme hunger. By April, 4.4 million people (about one in five of the country) will not know where their next meal comes from. Save children were forced to close about 121 health and nutrition sites in Somalia due to aid cuts, reducing support from more than 250,000 people.
Save Children Calls on world leaders, partners and everyone around the world to invest financially in children and their future. In the long run, we know that the aid sector will change forever through these rapid reductions in foreign aid, but it is crucial that while meeting immediate needs, we collectively reform the system to effectively serve children. Investing in children today creates a safer, brighter, more stable world for us all. It’s not just about funding – any reset or reform process throughout the sector must defend values based on foreign aid.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of Rescue Children.
