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.”
Last week, Mr Modi had not only urged the state governments to take action against those who take law into their hands in the name of cow protection, but also called them anti-social elements.
Comments
Cows need Z+ Security.....
Buffalo's will be worshipped on father's day.....ha ha.....
Can cow god mate on street? Please build Goshaalays before making Sauchaalay......other cow Vidhya balan......ha ha
Mr Pumpwell,,,,,Pls go to Bhatkal Police station, and find out ..who placed the Meat bag in the Nagabana recently..... All criminals.... They themselves do all kinds of anti social acts and blame the other community members...
All these RSS supported goonda gangs are worried of PM's statement. In the name of Gow rakshak they used to make
a very good money. They themselves used to transport the cow and sell the cow. They used to get the haftha from each truck or van who transports cow. Now they worried about their business.
This sharan is doing a lots of money in the name of \hindusm\". These are the real anti hindus. They are spoiling good religion name for their benefit. First of all intelligent department has to check these goons leaders , from where they get huge money and vehicle for their illegal operations."
Let first chaddi Indian army protect our Kashmir, later they are welcome to save your so called \GO MATHA\"."
I really dont understand why GOD need protection that too an ARMY.Being a GOD why can not he save himself.Then how can a GOD protect his beliver's like Sharan.
i thank D Souza but he is unaware that even in HIndu authentic scriptures eating cow meat is holy not an offense
these days criminals are heroes of the nation , definition of nationalist has been changed to RSS , HA HA HA
In Islam drinikg alchohol and selling is prohibited equally ,why you Govt export it without any cowraskshak firewall and restrict inside India , dont you think is a joke , its a created job to kill with licence the humans to save animal , this must be stopped
Pumpwell is partner with Somnath in beef exports ... May be he is losing his profit... but everything will be EXPOSED in near future.
mr sharan quickly go and break the leg of those bjp leaders who export your so called gou matha meat
Dear Sharan Bhai,
Also write him to stop exporting beef to worldwide....
Do you think that government of India exporting beef without killing the cows, in such case it is more painful to Gomaatha, Please don't be stupid stop making drama in the name of cow...
In foreign countries every hypermarket and supermarkets selling Indian beef..from where these beef coming could you ask Mr. Modi about it and to order for a inquiry on it....or let him announce that flesh of Gomaatha only for export not for self use..
If you need more information... we will start a photo campaign of the Indian beef counters in different countries of the world...
We need soldiers to protect cow meat export from various airports and seaports.....
I think SHARAN PUMPwell is ignorant of his own scriptures...
The Aryans of the Rig Veda did KILL Cows for purposes of food and ate beef in abundantly clear from Rig Veda itself. In RV (X86.14) Indra says : They COOK for one 15 plus twenty OXEN.
The RV (X91.14) says that for AGNI were sacrificed horses, bulls, oxen, BARREN COWS and rams. From Rig Veda (X.72.6) It appears that the COW was killed with a Sword or AXE.
He is also ignorant of the indian law too..
How can people follow this IGNORANT & Dig their own hell to themselves as well as their families (Just lyk NAMO leader who was on the run and now behind bars without any bail.. He may getaway but his family is suffering also the family of the victims are suffering. How come these intelligent people does not recognize the evil in this?????????
Mr. sharan,
DO you agree law and order is equal for all. Even if you belongs to rowdy dal or a common man, who gave you permission to assault or humiliate someone in the name of cow.. Be human first then be a rakshak to humans first other animals comes in later stage. Think like a man not like animal.
Dont make your own rules. be cool man..
who are u to protect the cow and take law in your hand
police will take care, why u people behave like goondaas in mangalore karnataka
if cow is holy ... then it is only for ur hindhu religion not applicable for others
need to protect our country and women from rapists then go for special cow , u request to bring the army to karnataka for saving cow.. u r good joker of mangalore
Dear Brother Sharan,
Cows as you were described as 'GOD' need food not the ARMY. Please visit north India and see how your GODS Been treated. Dear Sharan please send some food stuffs to Rajasthan so that we can save your GODS.
Let's stop consuming the cheap Indian exported cow meat
also reminded the PM of an existing provision in section 40 of CrPC that empowers citizens to arrest those who commit cognizable offences.
So Mangaloreans have the Liberty to Arrest Mr Pumpwell for Attacking Muslims and committing many offences in Past as per his crpc40 section?
Viren.. good to see you against Modi...ha ha..
Sharan ....will this letter reach the pm...?
Since govt. has failed to protect minorities from RSS terrorism due to shortage of police force in the state/country then according to Pimpwell logic Muslims should form Minority Army to protect people from RSS terrorism.
He said, It's holy animal. Can some one elaborate how it is HOLY????
Mr pump well if you feel cow is God then better make a round to panambur or baikampady area and see how cows are lying on the road. With food ,
I request all muslims to stop eating beef. Big full stop. We can survive in other ways.
But if we do it..
Will the so called cow protectors promise us they will stop this violence and mess.?
Will the govt stop exporting cow meat?
Will they agree that they will not being another animal as holy god after this?
Lets finish it totally in a decent wAy.
I am in gulf, the indian beef is on cheap offer price now, but still i dont buy it. Its my way of protest against indian beef exporters and govt. any indian meat i dont buy.
Viren Kotian, Udupi,
You need to protect? Do you have any idea about those protected cows in Rajastan and Gujrat? Cows are dying there without food, dead bodies are stinking there and your Gau protectors are not to be seen taking care of them.
Tell your pumpwell to send his Dal to those place to clean up the mess.
A day will come when all these Bajrangi/Hindutva street fighters will teach a lesson to their own masters. That will be the end of RSS.
Good move by Sharan Pumpwell. Why we need to protect? let the centre send Army and shoot down cattle transporters. Anti nationals will start protesting. Let the Army curb the protesters too just like they did in Kashmir.
As per ICRA, Indian Buffalo meat(read as Beef) exports from India to reach to Rs.40,000/- crores in five years reported Business Standard newspaper. PM Modi has to look after the interests of exporters mostly upper caste Hindus and Jains.
Wait a minute....1st of all which law says not to kill the cow...Karnataka govt. Or central govt. Never banned the cow slaughter...... If the law is from ur religious book then it only apply to those who believe in it.... Not us........don't bark anything in media.......youngsters r watching u
First let them protect our women from rapist, law also don't permit to rape or take law in your hand, then what law are you talking about.if you are really worried about the law then allow the police to their work instead of you guys taking law in hand and torturing the innocent.
First let them protect our women from rapist, law also don't permit to rape or take law in your hand, then what law are you talking about. if you are really worried about the law then allow the police to their work instead of you guys taking law in hand and torturing the innocent.
Can any one explain the income of Sharan Pumpwel? what is his monthly income? what is his business? How he earn money?
Eligible for next PM post.
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