Hounde, Jul 28: Coronavirus and its restrictions are pushing already hungry communities over the edge, killing an estimated 10,000 more young children a month as meager farms are cut off from markets and villages are isolated from food and medical aid, the United Nations warned Monday.
In the call to action shared with The Associated Press ahead of publication, four UN agencies warned that growing malnutrition would have long-term consequences, transforming individual tragedies into a generational catastrophe.
Hunger is already stalking Haboue Solange Boue, an infant from Burkina Faso who lost half her former body weight of 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) in just a month. Coronavirus restrictions closed the markets, and her family sold fewer vegetables. Her mother was too malnourished to nurse.
“My child,” Danssanin Lanizou whispered, choking back tears as she unwrapped a blanket to reveal her baby's protruding ribs.
More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck by what is called wasting, according to the UN — malnutrition that manifests in spindly limbs and distended bellies. Over a year, that's up 6.7 million from last year's total of 47 million. Wasting and stunting can permanently damage children physically and mentally.
“The food security effects of the COVID crisis are going to reflect many years from now,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, the WHO head of nutrition. “There is going to be a societal effect.”
From Latin America to South Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, more poor families than ever are staring down a future without enough food.
In April, World Food Program head David Beasley warned that the coronavirus economy would cause global famines “of biblical proportions” this year. There are different stages of what is known as food insecurity; famine is officially declared when, along with other measures, 30% of the population suffers from wasting.
The World Food Program estimated in February that one Venezuelan in three was already going hungry, as inflation rendered salaries nearly worthless and forced millions to flee abroad. Then the virus arrived.
“Every day we receive a malnourished child,” said Dr. Francisco Nieto, who works in a hospital in the border state of Tachira.
In May, Nieto recalled, after two months of quarantine, 18-month-old twins arrived with bodies bloated from malnutrition. The children's mother was jobless and living with her own mother. She told the doctor she fed them only a simple drink made with boiled bananas.
“Not even a cracker? Some chicken?” he asked.
“Nothing,” the children's grandmother responded. By the time the doctor saw them, it was too late: One boy died eight days later.
The leaders of four international agencies — the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization — have called for at least dollar 2.4 billion immediately to address global hunger.
But even more than lack of money, restrictions on movement have prevented families from seeking treatment, said Victor Aguayo, the head of UNICEF's nutrition program.
“By having schools closed, by having primary health care services disrupted, by having nutritional programs dysfunctional, we are also creating harm,” Aguayo said. He cited as an example the near-global suspension of Vitamin A supplements, which are a crucial way to bolster developing immune systems.
In Afghanistan, movement restrictions prevent families from bringing their malnourished children to hospitals for food and aid just when they need it most. The Indira Gandhi hospital in the capital, Kabul, has seen only three or four malnourished children, said specialist Nematullah Amiri. Last year, there were 10 times as many.
Because the children don't come in, there's no way to know for certain the scale of the problem, but a recent study by Johns Hopkins University indicated an additional 13,000 Afghans younger than 5 could die.
Afghanistan is now in a red zone of hunger, with severe childhood malnutrition spiking from 690,000 in January to 780,000 — a 13% increase, according to UNICEF.
In Yemen, restrictions on movement have blocked aid distribution, along with the stalling of salaries and price hikes. The Arab world's poorest country is suffering further from a fall in remittances and a drop in funding from humanitarian agencies.
Yemen is now on the brink of famine, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, which uses surveys, satellite data and weather mapping to pinpoint places most in need.
Some of the worst hunger still occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. In Sudan, 9.6 million people live from one meal to the next — a 65% increase from the same time last year.
Lockdowns across Sudanese provinces, as around the world, have dried up work and incomes for millions. With inflation hitting 136%, prices for basic goods have more than tripled.
“It has never been easy but now we are starving, eating grass, weeds, just plants from the earth,” said Ibrahim Youssef, director of the Kalma camp for internally displaced people in war-ravaged south Darfur.
Adam Haroun, an official in the Krinding camp in west Darfur, recorded nine deaths linked with malnutrition, otherwise a rare occurrence, over the past two months — five newborns and four older adults, he said.
Before the pandemic and lockdown, the Abdullah family ate three meals a day, sometimes with bread, or they'd add butter to porridge. Now they are down to just one meal of “millet porridge” — water mixed with grain. Zakaria Yehia Abdullah, a farmer now at Krinding, said the hunger is showing “in my children's faces.”
“I don't have the basics I need to survive,” said the 67-year-old, who who hasn't worked the fields since April. “That means the 10 people counting on me can't survive either.”
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Are you guys thinking that RSS doesn't know about muslim education( system..? (madarasa)??? They knew every thing but acting as if doesn't knw.their main intension is to establish a Hindu Rashtra to achieve that goal they deliberately creating unrest in the society. They have already listed Muslims Christians and communist are their enemy for Hindu Rashtra. To achieve their goal they keep hunting for Muslims and their institute. These kind of programme doesn't solve the problem of Muslims instead create a lot. Better muslim groups must educate SSF about RSS ideology and their ultimate goal.
One must understand the fact that Soolibele will not rest until india become Hindurastra.you guys make any adjustment with RSS ideology but they won't change their mindset.each and every opportunity what you provide for them they will make it as a weapon to criticise in other stage. I can understand the intension of the organiser but the outcome will be 0. (Zero). It's better SSF to organise a programme for Muslim groups \ jathyatheetha rastradalli Muslim sangatanegala javabdaari \"???? will they show the same spirit and interest..???"
Why these Sunnies always with sangh pariwaar?
Even in Ullal uroos also most of the guests are Sanghis.
Kanthapuram is the supporter of modi and sangh pariwar.
may be he is enemy for true Muslims.
Instead of nasty criticism, you fringe elements show the guts to invite him for your religions samavesha (convention) and silence him. Ofcourse, the Ulemas present gave befitting response to him and tried their best to clear the misconception of Islam. Everyone knows who is Soolibele and what he stands for. Still they invited him to present Islam. Instead of appreciating their efforts, some are trying to fish in the muddy waters. shame on you!!!
Im not a SUNNI
Im not a SALAFI
Im not a Shia
Im not a SECT
Im a MUSLIM
Cheddis never teach them what is in Madrasas and they feed hindus which we muslims never teach in madrasas. WE muslim need to Convey the message to the hindus. If we dont convey to the leaders of them Then they will engage more of such ignorant acts. Even after conveying the message, if they still follow evil acts.. Then we muslims should live it to ALLAH the true God who can save or accept his decree for whatever happens. ALLAH will look after the OPPRESSORS. so dont worry MUSLIMS.
Dear HINDUS .. Honestly in Madrasa we are taught that
WHO is our CREATOR, the CREATOR of all that exists, Who give life & death & who will RESURRECT us all to JUDGE that is happened in this world.. TRUE MUSLIMS will never despair.
When we come to know that CREATOR doesnt have any image or PICTURE or statutes.. WE muslims stay away from such thing from attributing HUMAN thinking into what the CREATOR himself, said. That is the only thing which ALLAH will never FORGIVE...
Many scientist accepted ISLAM by the Scientific Accuracy which is mentioned in QURAN which is not changed since it is revealed and it will be protected by ALLAH (the creator of all that exists) . Please try to know more about QURAN and staying infront of MEDIA and accepting whatever said in it.... Its just Fooling U guys cos U never read your own religious scriptures which says NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI>
There is no point in criticizing Mr. Sulibele, as he was making a statement based on his knowledge on Islam and Madrassa. And the responsibility to clarify the shortcomings in his speech is the scholars there. I hope they carried out their duty. Dialogue is the best way for understanding each other. One-sided ranting does not be in the good interest.
Really shameful. Are these musliyars crazy ?? Why they invited this communal guy? Do no call and give respect to RSS people in Islamic programs . Really shameful program.
Invite him to All Madrasas and make him read a few lines on Who is God and Show him the Scientific knowledge of QURAN and let him know what we Worship... which also mentioned in their VEDAS...
Without knowing people commit IGNORANT acts.. Let us invite and teach him the REALITY of MADRASAS.
These musliars invited sulibele without giving him the message of Islam.as per his knowledge madrasa and musliar is islam. so there is no wrong in his thought and speech. instead of spreading moulood spread this message of islam to your co brothers like sulibele
Sometime back Jamate Islami Hind and SIO invited Shivram Karanta as a special guest in Malpe Jamiya Masjid Symposium. He also talked in the same way as Sulibele. In the year of 1984, Muslim Welfare Association of Udipi, organized a Eid Milan at Rajangana at Krishna Mutt, Pejavar Seer was Chief Guest, stated that he also believe in one God that is Sri Krishna unlike Muslims. During 90's At Uroos function of Saidaani Bibi Darga at Central Maidan, Mangalore, Veerendra Hegde was Chief Guest, claimed that, We Hindus worship God while Idol is standing position and Muslim worship sleeping position, there is no difference between type of Worship he asserted.
However, one RSS patron and many Musliars were not correctly defended Islam in the podium. This will be a lesson to the Sunni Jammaitul Muslimeen and Sunny Educational Development Committee not invite ultras of RSS in the future unless there is a good orator to defend these Bajrangis. Because they are strong enemies of Islam and Muslims.
I appreciate that this program was held and there was a short debate clarifying the misconception about Islam and Madarsa, whatever said about Madarsa, Islam and it's followers was clarified on the podium itself.
I wish more such programmes and events should be conducted by our leaders so that there is peace in the region.
All are human beings keep on telling them about islam they will understand one day, just like how media keep on criticising about islam and made people to believe that muslims are bad people. They are working 24x7 to defame us let us work too to propogate the truth even one hour a day is much much enough.
Moilars didn't get any better guest...Even if cow or goat was invited instead of sulibele to the venue it would have been better guest...Awwe avodu nikulegu...
Abusufiyan n zaini supposed to wear orange colour dress,,,, and one day they will
Disgusting! Musliyars wake up ! there is a sayings
\Kardu uughisikonda\""
Moilar: Eer daane moolu?
Sooliebele: Yaan Moole!
Moilar: Bokka eerna cheddi parivara?
Soolibele: Yeregaavuye kiri kiri? yepala avve mone thoodu thoodu saakanad. moolu ragaale ijji.. daada pandala akulu thasbi malthonde uppuver
Hilarious !Disgusting soolibele in our own programme critising madarasa remebering me a famous kannada saying \donne kottu pettu tinnodu\"!!!However organizing team well deserve this tease bcoz themselves dont know what they doing!!!"
Good Gathering of Musliyars!
Musliyar Nannayal Naad Nannai!!!
He is a product of bajrangies...of course he does not like Muslims at all...creating problems among Muslims & Hindus is his fundamental job...why he has been called to this function...don't understand that...
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