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.”
Comments
It is stupidity to call it hindu-muslim marriage as the girl converted to Islam a few days back from the marriage. She has the right to do whatever she wants but conversions as condition for marriage does not account for true love. Only hypocrites can justify conversion and can call it love triumph. It is a shame that a person has to change religion for marriage and lovers in interreligious religions (be it of any religion) should be able to defend faith of each others that for me is true love. Fanatics use Indian laws to marry girls of other religions and show their religious hypocricy by making the girl to convert for marriage which for me is a cheap ideology. Progressive laws are being used by bigots to show their true color. Which is a shame, in any religions if a partner is made to change religion the party who forces other to change religion is cheap and fanatic. Not a secular trend..
Wishing the couple a happy married life...I have only one query..In an inter-religious marriage such as this one...the woman has to compulsorily convert to Isalm is it ?? What is the Isalmic law inthis regards...Wat if te booy ocnverts to Hinduism through arya Samaj ?
I have heard of several inter-religious marriages where there is no conversion---husband hindu/mother catholic etc...Why conversion here ?
Dear Prakash, you are like a frog in the well and have no knowledge about islam and muslims. dont read books written by prabhakar b hat / Mutalik / Karnik etc. Read books written by authenticated people. Half knowledge is not good for health. Talk to Mr. Jain, a shiv sena activist who was against Muslims / Islams till recently and have reverted to Islam for the reason he changed his belief. May be you will get correct answer to your question. dont judge on yourself. dont trust the hate mongers. May God bless you with right way of thinking and keep you on right path.
Happy married life may Allah fullfil all your dream and I pray all your dream come true .. I pray Allah to give you more strength to fight this saffron menace...!!!!
Wish you Happy married life and wish you happy and prosperous married life.
Prakash...in your religion why lower cast girl or boy cant marry upper cast girl or boy...as per Islam if a boy wants to marry a Hindu girl, he can but she has to convert to Islam religion....because in Hinduism, Hindus pray 100's of gods which is forbidden in Islam....and children born out of that marriage will follow mother's tradition or religion...to avoid that she should convert to Islam...one thing is nobody can force anyone to marry to someone...here girl and boy loved each other and married...she willingly converted to Islam.
hIjab, burka will give security and safety to girls while they are venturing outside of their home....you know most of rapes and molestation of girls happening around India....reason behind it is girls dont cover their body parts properly, whereas burkha and hijab will protect them from it....
Muslims can marry up to 4 girls....it is not compulsory but it is a provision...if you can't make justification and satisfy their requirements then you are not eligible for it at all....
@Prakash
Coz Muslim Girls are not allowed to marry the disbelievers or the polytheists as per Shariah law. Neither is a Muslim man allowed to marry a Disbeliever/Polytheist. The only option here is the man or the woman must revert to Islam for
It is surprising to note the greetings from the readers to the so called Muslim boy.... Do not forget this boy was in love with the non muslim girl since 12 years, just imagine the amount of SIN he has earned by having contacts with the girl without marriage..... we are nothing but hypocrites to greet the so called muslim boy....
Dear Prakash R...
One reason is U guys are worshiping the Man made gods. U make saints as gods, u make idols as gods, u make animals as gods, u make MONKEYs as God, U make URINE as God's blessing...
SICK... When Ur own VEDA says NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI... Y dont U use your intellect and find out WHO is GOD and who is WORTHY of WORSHIP...
U will get all the answers if U start using your intellect honestly on recognising our CREATOR who created U & ME and all that exists.
Dear Prakash Answer :bcz Muslim Girl believe in Allah & they want to die as Muslim .they dont want to go to hell forever Mr prakash i invite you to
Islam Believe in One god and Prophet muhmmed(saw) is the Messenger of Allah so Accept islam it will benefit in both world. you will have no fear in hearafter May allah guide us all Ameen
Question: Why not Muslim girls marry other religion boys?
The religion should not poke its nose in any way. If the boy was really brave, he should have suggested for a non-religious marriage. In the boy's religion, there is no freedom for women, men can marry 4 wives, pray 5 times a day. In each and everything, religion comes first, burkha, hijab are symbols of slavery. She does not know that she is getting into an unknown jail...
People of religion bring the name of non-existing god unnecessarily.. that's the problem, otherwise, it is ok..
Shaistha weds Shakeel.....how the hell is this a Hindu- Muslim wedding ??
The heading should read
\Girl discards Hinduism and embraces Islam to get married to the love of her life \""
Shaistha WEDS Shakeel.....how the hell is this a Hindu- Muslim wedding ??
The headlines should read \Girls discards Hinduism and embraces Islam to get married to the love of her life \""
ONLY LOVE NO JIHAD.....
WISH YOU VERY HAPPY MARRIED LIFE...
MAY ALLAH SWT BLESS YOU BOTH ..AMEEN.
I really congratulate the noble parents and the brave couples, may almighty Allah bless you with all the happiness, you proved your true love you will be the roll model for others
She is a well educated girl. The Boy seems promising too. They will take very good care of eachother and lead a happy life , InShaAllah!
Allah gives her hidayah, Alhamdulillah. We pray to Allah to give her knowledge and keep her steadfast upon Islam.
#Burnol_Moment_For Sanghis
Qareeb itna raho ke rishtey mei pyar rahe,
Door bhi itna raho ke aane ka intezar rahe,
rakho ummed rishtaon ke darmiyan itni,
Ke toot jaaye ummeed magar rishtey BARQARAAR rahen.
Wish you a very very very happy married and contended life.
The Prophet (SAW) said A Women May be married for four Reason for her property, her status, her Beauty and her Religion ;so try to get Religious, May you Blessed But Nowadays some Men they choose one who has no Imaan .Thats why it will become a big Fitnah for this ummah May Allah guide us
India requires bold women like Rifqa Bary, Wafa Sultan, Nonie Darwish. Malaika Arrora is no more Khan now. Hrithik Roshan is free from the bondage of her wife's religion. Non-Muslim Girls are unaware of divorces in Islam. Innocent girls are deceived.
Tight Slap to chaddis..
When People read the QURAN...
They will realize the TRUTH & DIVINE CONNECTION.
The TRUTH about who is worthy of WORSHIP.
When U know that then
U will depend on the one who CREATED us all.
When U depend, U are in the safe hands of the CREATOR, unless it is decreed by the CREATOR.
U will come to know who is behind EVIL
U will come to know what is cheddi agenda.
U will come to know previous nations who ruled with Evil agenda are PERISHED.
U will come to know the ARROGANT leaders who made themselves GOD and when the time of death came, they realised they are not GODs .
U will come to know the ARROGANT who will never be satisfied even if they have mountains of Gold in their possession.... They are still GREEDY. (We see many of them today)
U will come to know the oppressor like Pharoah, Haman, Abu jahl.. how their life came to end. (Read QURAN).
U will come to know How the CREATOR will assist those who have FAITH in HIM..
DEAR all.... Read QURAN, U will understand What is LIFE, What is the PURPOSE of LIFE. NO need any babas in between.. U & Ur maker...
LOOK for this, U will be successful.
Wish you happy married life!
All the best for the new couple. live your life happily
Haati Chale Bazar kutte Bokhe Hazaar...!
Both families are really great. Triumph of humanity
Am really proud of you Ashita. Finally love defeated hatred. This wedding was a blend of Hindu Muslim culture. This wedding not only united couples from two different families but also united families from two different religions and crushed communalism.
What was the need of conversion and change of name if the love was genuine?
Wish You a Happy Wedding Gud Luck For Your Future..Really This is an Achievement..Well Done..
baarakallahu lakum wa baraka alaikum wa jamaha bainakumaa fil kair
All the best and go ahead....its your life....enjoy....
very good news for all the hate mongers...
nice answer by the girl right on hate mongers face...May Allah protect the couple and destroy those who come on their way......
Very good sister. I pray allah to give you more strength to fight this saffron menace
good luck dont bother about threat call ,threat call treat as miss call.
Wish u happy married life. you won. Need not to be afraid of rss chaddi goons. they cant do anything. they only know to bark like dogs.
Hearty congratulation to parents of this boy and girl who supported this union.
happy married life. all the best for your future life
Happy married life to the new couple. dont worry about anything. enjoy your life and be happy always
Happy married life, all the best.
Wish you both a very happy married life!!
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