Latest news with #GlobalAcuteMalnutrition
Morocco World
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
UN Sounds Alarm: Critical Malnutrition Crisis Grips Polisario Captives in Tindouf
Marrakech – Catastrophic malnutrition rates now plague the Polisario-run, Algerian-controlled Tindouf camps, according to a new UN investigation. The findings reveal the brutal reality faced by thousands of Sahrawis held hostage in these desolate compounds on Algerian territory. The UN report, released June 25, documents that Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) has reached 13.6% – the highest level since 2010 and classified as 'critical' by World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This humanitarian disaster directly threatens the lives of captives, particularly children under five years old and women. University College London conducted the investigation with support from CISP, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, and the Algerian Red Crescent, discovering horrific conditions kept from international scrutiny. One in three children suffers from stunting due to chronic malnutrition while 65% of children and 69% of women show anemia cases. A mere 25% of households receive minimally acceptable nutrition. 'The nutritional situation has never been this critical in over ten years. We face a real humanitarian emergency,' admitted Savina Ammassari, UN Resident Coordinator in Algeria. 'Only an immediate and collective response from the international community can prevent irreversible consequences.' This further confirms what Morocco has long asserted about the inhumane conditions in these camps. The crisis worsens as funds for the 'Sahrawi Refugee Response Plan' have dwindled, with only 34% of the needed $103.9 million secured. This financial shortage reflects the waning international support for the Polisario's separatist agenda while Morocco's sovereignty over its Saharan provinces gains increasing global recognition. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres previously noted the dire situation in his October 2024 report, citing that 'rising food prices' combined with 'extreme environmental conditions and limited economic opportunities' have left captives 'malnourished and highly vulnerable.' The UN Food Security Assessment concluded that over 80% of camp inhabitants depend entirely on humanitarian aid – aid that numerous reports confirm is systematically embezzled by Polisario leadership. This nutritional catastrophe occurs amid mounting evidence of severe human rights abuses. Last March, multiple NGOs testified at the 58th UN Human Rights Council session about the Polisario's regime, including kidnappings, torture chambers, child exploitation, and cold-blooded extrajudicial executions. The geographical isolation of these camps shields these atrocities from international monitoring. Former detainee El Fadel Braika described the 'inhumane conditions' in the camps, including forced disappearances and the exploitation of child soldiers. Other organizations condemned the Polisario's use of programs like 'Vacations in Peace' as 'a cover for child trafficking.' Harrowing conditions The Sahrawi Movement for Peace (MSP) in April thundered against the Algerian regime following the cold-blooded murder of two young Sahrawis by Algerian soldiers in the Dajla refugee camp, 160 kilometers east of Tindouf. In an urgent communiqué addressed to the United Nations and MINURSO, the MSP condemned the 'flagrant violations of the most fundamental human rights' that 'can no longer be ignored.' This savage killing adds to a bloody series of assaults where the Algerian military systematically targets defenseless Sahrawis. Mere days before the April incident, Algerian troops gunned down Sid Ahmed Belali and wounded nine others near the Gara Djebilet mine, leaving three clinging to life in critical condition. At the time, video footage captured desperate hostages confronting their oppressors, threatening to escape to their homeland Morocco while telling Algerian soldiers: 'You're killing our children here in cold blood.' These harrowing conditions explain why countless captives risk their lives to flee back to Morocco, their true homeland. While the fictional 'SADR' entity exists only within these isolated Algerian camps, the actual Western Sahara territories remain fully integrated into Morocco's sovereignty with development under Rabat's leadership. The stark contrast is unmistakable: while Morocco invests billions in developing its southern provinces, Polisario leaders divert humanitarian aid to purchase weapons and maintain their lifestyles, as documented by the European Anti-Fraud Office's 2015 report on systematic aid embezzlement. As world powers increasingly support Morocco's Autonomy Plan as 'the only viable path to a lasting and politically feasible resolution,' this latest UN report further exposes the true humanitarian catastrophe perpetuated by the Polisario separatists and their Algerian backers.
Hi Dubai
03-06-2025
- Health
- Hi Dubai
UAE Launches Initiative with WHO to Combat Malnutrition in Socotra Island
The United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has launched a humanitarian initiative to combat rising malnutrition rates among women and children on Yemen's Socotra Island. The effort, led by the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Works, targets one of the region's most pressing health challenges. Recent data shows the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children under five on the island has reached 10.9%, with the Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate at 1.6%—figures that cross internationally recognised critical thresholds. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director-General of the Foundation, said the initiative reflects the UAE's enduring commitment to humanitarian support and global health development. He emphasised the project's roots in the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the current leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, will work closely with WHO to develop evidence-based solutions to tackle nutrition-related health issues. The two-year plan includes reducing maternal and child mortality, enhancing emergency preparedness, and strengthening local healthcare systems. Dr. Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, Acting WHO Representative in Yemen, highlighted the importance of the partnership in addressing urgent needs and building long-term health resilience in the region. The initiative also aims to improve food security, raise awareness on nutrition and hygiene, train medical personnel, and boost disease surveillance. It forms part of broader joint efforts between the UAE and WHO to stabilise health conditions across Yemen through sustainable aid and infrastructure support. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Kenya: Refugees Facing ‘Lowest Ever' Emergency Food Rations Amid Funding Crisis
Over the past five years, the refugee population in Kenya has surged by more than 70 per cent – from approximately 500,000 to 843,000 – driven largely by conflict and drought in neighbouring Sudan and Somalia. Of these, around 720,000 people are sheltering in the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, as well as the Kalobeyei settlement. In Sudan, the civil war that erupted in April 2023 has killed over 18,000 people, displaced 13 million, and left 30.4 million in need of assistance, according to the UN. WFP provides emergency food and nutrition support to 2.3 million Sudanese as violence and the collapse of essential infrastructure deepen the crisis. In Somalia, severe drought has placed 3.4 million people – including 1.7 million children – at risk of acute malnutrition. At the weekend, Secretary-General António Guterres recommended that the Security Council ensure financing for the African Union's Support and Stabilisation Mission there (UNSOM), as the country continues to battle insecurity and attacks from Al-Shabaab militants. Shrinking rations, rising need Previously, a monthly WFP ration for a refugee in the camps included 8.1 kilogrammes of rice, 1.5 kg of lentils, 1.1 litres of oil, and cash for purchasing essentials. That support has now been halved, and cash payments have stopped entirely. Without emergency funding, food rations could drop to just 28 per cent of their original level. WFP is appealing for $44 million to restore full food and cash assistance through August. Cuts compound existing crises Although cuts to foreign aid by many developed nations this year has further constrained operations, WFP began reducing services for Kenya's refugee population in 2024. Many of the families arriving are already food insecure, and Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates among children and pregnant or breastfeeding women exceed 13 per cent – three percent above the emergency threshold. Targeted nutrition programmes ended in late 2024 due to lack of resources.
News18
19-05-2025
- Health
- News18
11 Million Pakistanis Facing Acute Food Insecurity, Many On The Brink Of Starvation: UN Report
Last Updated: According to the UN report, 1.1 crore people in Pakistan are facing food insecurity, with around 17 lakh in 'emergency' conditions, i.e. just one step away from famine As Shehbaz Sharif continues to attempt parallels between Pakistan and India on the global stage, a sobering United Nations report has laid bare a grim reality: over 1.1 crore (11 million) Pakistanis are grappling with acute hunger, many on the brink of starvation. In sharp contrast to India, which emerged as a global food supplier in times of crisis, Pakistan has found itself struggling to feed its own citizens. The revelations come from the Global Report on Food Crises 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations on Friday, May 16. The report paints a dire picture of food insecurity in Pakistan, particularly in conflict-affected and impoverished regions such as Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the report, 1.1 crore people are facing food insecurity, with around 17 lakh in what the FAO classifies as 'emergency' conditions – just one step away from famine. These figures mark a sharp 38% increase in population coverage compared to 2024, suggesting that Pakistan's food crisis is not just persisting but worsening. Much of this crisis is rooted in rural districts across 68 regions that have been battered by extreme weather, flooding, poverty, and decades of political neglect. In the aftermath of the catastrophic floods, nearly 22% of the population in these zones is teetering on the edge of starvation. In the southern provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, where calls for autonomy or independence have been simmering for years, malnutrition has become a silent epidemic. The report notes that between 2018 and early 2024, the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate in some districts exceeded 30% – a rate considered life-threatening by global health standards. Even in 'normal' conditions, GAM rates above 10% signal a public health emergency. In a damning reflection of state failure, the report states that from March 2023 to January 2024, more than 21 lakh children in Pakistan suffered from severe malnutrition. Compounding this crisis are decaying health infrastructure and impassable rural roads, especially in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan – areas where basic services remain inaccessible. The FAO's findings have added pressure on Pakistan's leadership, especially as Prime Minister Sharif attempts to position the country on equal footing with its India. While India is dispatching grain shipments abroad, Pakistan's internal turmoil suggests it may need to receive them. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
