Latest news with #ST4N
Canada News.Net
10-08-2025
- Health
- Canada News.Net
Using hunger as weapon of war 'a moral failure'
As scientists and members of the Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium (ST4N) who have been Standing Together For Nutrition during recent crises, we use evidence of the impact of crises on nutrition to advocate for the people most affected. 1–3 Now, in the face of the world's indifference, we are compelled to speak out about the horrifying human-made famine unfolding in Gaza and other conflict areas, including Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen. 4–9 Widespread starvation is deliberately used as a weapon of war, 10 at a scale that we never thought possible. 11 I t is a moral failure that in 2025 more than 1·2 million people are living in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) phase 5 (catastrophe) famine conditions—the most extreme food insecurity level according to the gold-standard IPC. 12 These famines are not only claiming lives today, but they are also inflicting irreversible intergenerational trauma and damage. 13–16 Undernutrition in early childhood, particularly during the first 1000 days of life, disrupts physical growth, weakens immune systems, and impairs cognitive development. 17 Wasted children are about 12 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than children with a healthy weight. 18 Those children who do survive famine will bear the impacts for life: stunted growth, chronic diseases, and reduced educational and economic potential. Evidence from the Dutch famine birth cohort and other famine-based studies shows that prenatal exposure to undernutrition impacts cardiometabolic health, mental health, and cognitive function at age 50 years and older. 19 The economic cost of malnutrition, through lost human capital and increased health-care expenses, can reduce nations' gross domestic product by 3–16%. 20 Additionally, the biological impacts might persist across generations through epigenetic changes, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and poor health. 17,21 The science of malnutrition and the solutions are known. Treatment of severe acute malnutrition, access to nutritious foods, clean water, nutrient supplements, and medical care are not radical ideas—they are proven strategies that save lives and rebuild communities. 22 Y et in Gaza and other conflict zones, humanitarian organisations are systematically obstructed to an extent we have not seen before. Aid is blocked, health infrastructure is targeted, and families are left to face starvation, constituting grave violations of international humanitarian law. 23 Undernutrition is not only a consequence of war, it is also the seed for future conflict. 24 Desperation breeds instability. If an entire generation is allowed to grow up hungry, traumatised, and without hope, we all are complicit in setting the stage for further suffering. Careful data collection and scientific evidence to inform policy making are important. But this is not a moment for analysis, this is a moment for action. ST4N is calling for the nutrition, medical, public health, and scientific community to support a call to action on ST4N's website. 25 Using hunger as a weapon of war must stop. Aid must flow today. Every child—every person—has the right to the nutrition they need to survive and thrive. Immediate, sufficient, unimpeded, and unconditional humanitarian access is urgent; it is the only path to avert further famine-related deaths and suffering. To delay humanitarian assistance is to deepen the crisis; to act is to break the chains of complicity. We are all members of the Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium (ST4N). SO and LH are co-founders of ST4N. SO, LH, BMC, JF, EB, MEB, and ZAB are members of the ST4N Steering Committee and CF is the ST4N Program Lead. SO, CF, and LMS report funding from Global Affairs Canada. BMC is a consultant to the Global Centre on Adaptation and Clim-Eat. SO, CF, KM, and LMS are employees of the Micronutrient Forum, which hosts ST4N and led the development of this Comment. RH is a consultant to the Micronutrient Forum. RV is a researcher at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC); the JRC is a public research body under the European Commission, and RV reports institutional support for work in supporting the Technical Advisory Group for Nutrition in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC); RV is a scientific expert supporting the IPC's Technical Advisory Group as well as the Nutrition Working Group. ZAB reports an institutional grant from the Larsson Foundation for evaluating breastfeeding support for women and children in conflict and humanitarian settings and is the Founding Coordinator for the BRANCH consortium Bridging Research to Action for Women and Children in Conflict and Humanitarian Settings 2017–2023. All other authors declare no competing interests. Source: The Lancet References 1. Osendarp, S ∙ Ruel, M ∙ Udomkesmalee, E ∙ et al. The full lethal impact of massive cuts to international food aid Nature. 2025;640:35-37 Crossref Scopus (1) PubMed Google Scholar 2. Osendarp, S ∙ Akuoku, JK ∙ Black, RE ∙ et al. The COVID-19 crisis will exacerbate maternal and child undernutrition and child mortality in low- and middle-income countries Nat Food. 2021;2:476-484 Crossref Scopus (118) PubMed Google Scholar 3. Osendarp, S ∙ Verburg, G ∙ Bhutta, Z ∙ et al. Act now before Ukraine war plunges millions into malnutrition Nature. 2022;604:620-624 Crossref Scopus (64) PubMed Google Scholar 4. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Gaza Strip. IPC Alert: worst-case scenario of famine unfolding in the Gaza Strip. Issue 133 Date: July 29, 2025 Date accessed: July 29, 2025 Google Scholar 5. WHO Malnutrition rates reach alarming levels in Gaza, WHO warns Date: July 27, 2025 Date accessed: July 28, 2025 Google Scholar 6. Faris, M ∙ Abutair, AS ∙ Elfarra, RM ∙ et al. Catastrophic famine in Gaza: unprecedented levels of hunger post-October 7th. A real population-based study from the Gaza Strip PLoS One. 2025;20, e0309854 Crossref Scopus (0) Google Scholar 7. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) South Sudan. IPC acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition analysis April 2025–July 2025 Date: June 12, 2025 Date accessed: July 25, 2025 Google Scholar 8. Mohamed, A ∙ Homeida, A Hunger in the shadow of conflict: analyzing malnutrition and humanitarian challenges in Sudan Confl Health. 2024;18:50 Crossref Scopus (5) PubMed Google Scholar 9. Perez Duque, M ∙ Alburhomy, A ∙ Ahmed, A ∙ et al. Acute malnutrition and food insecurity in Yemen, 2021: evidence from a two-stage cluster randomised survey in a protracted crisis PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025;5, e0004331 Crossref Scopus (0) PubMed Google Scholar 10. Ashour, Y ∙ Abu-Jlambo, A ∙ Abuzerr, S Starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza: violation of international law Lancet. 2025;405, 2044 Full Text Full Text (PDF) Scopus (0) Google Scholar 11. Bhutta, ZA ∙ Dominguez, GB ∙ Wise, PH When is enough, enough? Humanitarian rights and protection for children in conflict settings must be revisited BMJ. 2024;386, e081515 PubMed Google Scholar 12. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) IPC-CH Dashboard Date: 2025 Date accessed: July 23, 2025 Google Scholar 13. Jamaluddine, Z ∙ Abukmail, H ∙ Aly, S ∙ et al. Traumatic injury mortality in the Gaza Strip from Oct 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024: a capture-recapture analysis Lancet. 2025;405:469-477 Full Text Full Text (PDF) PubMed Google Scholar 14. Fieldhouse, R First independent survey of deaths in Gaza reports more than 80,000 fatalities Nature. 2025;643:311-312 Crossref Scopus (0) PubMed Google Scholar 15. Dercon, S ∙ Porter, C Live aid revisited: long-term impacts of the 1984 Ethiopian famine on children J Eur Econ Assoc. 2014;12:927-948 Crossref Scopus (0) Google Scholar 16. Ampaabeng, SK ∙ Tan, CM The long-term cognitive consequences of early childhood malnutrition: the case of famine in Ghana J Health Econ. 2013;32:1013-1027 Crossref Scopus (70) PubMed Google Scholar 17. Victora, CG ∙ Adair, L ∙ Fall, C ∙ et al. Maternal and child undernutrition: consequences for adult health and human capital Lancet. 2008;371:340-357 Full Text Full Text (PDF) Scopus (2619) PubMed Google Scholar 18. Olofin, I ∙ McDonald, CM ∙ Ezzati, M ∙ et al. Associations of suboptimal growth with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in children under five years: a pooled analysis of ten prospective studies PLoS One. 2013;8, e64636 Crossref Scopus (343) PubMed Google Scholar 19. De Rooij, SR ∙ Bleker, LS ∙ Painter, RC ∙ et al. Lessons learned from 25 years of research into long term consequences of prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine 1944–45: The Dutch famine Birth Cohort Int J Environ Health Res. 2022;32:1432-1446 Crossref Scopus (0) PubMed Google Scholar 20. Hoddinott, J The economics of reducing malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, 2016 Date accessed: July 27, 2025 Google Scholar 21. Behrman, JR ∙ Calderon, MC ∙ Preston, SH ∙ et al. Nutritional supplementation in girls influences the growth of their children: prospective study in Guatemala Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;90:1372-1379 Full Text Full Text (PDF) Scopus (112) PubMed Google Scholar 22. Keats, EC ∙ Das, JK ∙ Salam, RA ∙ et al. Effective interventions to address maternal and child malnutrition: an update of the evidence Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2021;5:367-384 Full Text Full Text (PDF) Scopus (199) PubMed Google Scholar 23. Quell, M Majority of countries argue Israel violated international law in last historic hearing at UN court AP News, Feb 26, 2024 Date accessed: July 27, 2025 Google Scholar 24. World Food Program USA Winning the peace: hunger and instability Date: 2017 Date accessed: July 25, 2025 Google Scholar 25. Standing Together for Nutrition Call to action Date: 2025 Date accessed: July 30, 2025 Google Scholar
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Nutrition Funding Cuts Could Claim 369K Young Lives This Year
Up to 2.3 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)— the most lethal form of ... More undernutrition— are now at risk of losing access to life-saving treatment due to critical cuts in nutrition funding A harrowing new study published in Nature warns that sweeping cuts to global nutrition funding could result in 369,000 additional child deaths every year. The analysis, conducted by the Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium (ST4N), a global network of leading development and nutrition experts, finds that up to 2.3 million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)— the most lethal form of undernutrition— are now at risk of losing access to life-saving treatment. 'It comes down to this,' says Saskia Osendarp, Executive Director of the Micronutrient Forum, hosts of ST4N. 'Seven children will die every ten minutes, not because we don't have the tools to save them— but because money is being pulled. It's hard to wrap your head around. And honestly, just like during the early days of COVID, I remember feeling this overwhelming sense of panic— thinking, Oh my God, what is happening?' The cuts to global nutrition aid are indeed staggering. The dismantling of USAID and reductions by the UK (40%), France (37%), the Netherlands (30%), and Belgium (25%)— are equivalent to 44% of the $1.6 billion provided in 2022. USAID-funded nutrition programs in particular— valued at $128 million in 2022— vanished almost overnight in a manner that Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, describes as 'brutal, sudden, and indiscriminate.' The Nature analysis links this single decision to the loss of treatment for one million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, and an estimated 163,500 additional child deaths annually. In Nigeria, where 2 million children face severe malnutrition and stunting affects one in three ... More under-fives, funding cuts pulled the rug out from under life-saving programs— leaving millions vulnerable and unprotected. In Nigeria, where 2 million children face severe malnutrition and stunting affects one in three under-fives, funding cuts pulled the rug out from under life-saving programs— leaving millions vulnerable and unprotected. In May 2024, global health non-profit, Helen Keller International had just celebrated 25 years of progress in the West African nation, with an impressive reach of over 73 million people. 'This is going to continue to happen as long as we have resources to invest in the states where we support,' said Aliyu Mohammed, Helen Keller's Country Director in an interview to mark the occasion. A mere nine months later, in February 2025, the organization received termination notices for all its U.S. government-funded projects. The withdrawal of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding meant that programs providing nutrition services to 5.6 million Nigerian children were halted. According to Helen Keller International, 21 million people across the countries it serves— many of them young children— are now at increased risk of severe malnutrition. 'Tools like the delivery of essential vitamins and nutrients, climate-smart agriculture, and screening and treatment of malnutrition have the power to severely reduce malnutrition, but suspended funding threatens our progress,' said Sarah Bouchie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helen Keller International, in a statement. While Nigeria's story is emblematic, it's only one thread in a broader unraveling of the global nutrition safety net. Boxes of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) at the Mana Nutrition plant in Fitzgerald, Georgia ... More waiting to be shipped on March 3, 2025 after contracts with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were abruptly canceled (Photo by JOHN FALCHETTO/AFP via Getty Images) In addition to treatment programs, nutrition funding cuts have hit essential prevention programs— breastfeeding promotion, food fortification, school feeding, agriculture, and social protection. These are the invisible pillars that keep millions of children from slipping into wasting, stunting, and life-threatening deficiencies. Severe acute malnutrition affects 13.7 million children annually. Without treatment, up to 60% will die. Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)— a dense, peanut-based paste that has become the gold standard for treating severe malnutrition— was largely funded by USAID. The global supply has now been cut in half. ST4N data reveals a $290 million drop in funding for severe acute malnutrition treatment alone. The ripple effects are devastating. Beyond the immediate health toll, the long-term economic and political consequences are substantial. Malnutrition undermines human capital, weakens labor markets, and slows economic growth— both at home and abroad. 'Evidence shows that this is going to impact the safety, the stability, and the prosperity of the United States and of other donor countries,' says Osendarp. 'We've seen that hunger and food insecurity have been one of the root causes of civil unrest and even of wars.' Haddad agrees: 'Hungry and malnourished people are restless,' he says. 'They're going to go overseas in search of a better life. Hungry and malnourished people have less to lose from conflict. They're much less likely to be building thriving enterprises and thriving economies to buy American and European goods.' France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou addresses the audience during the Nutrition for Growth ... More Summit in Paris on March 27, 2025. The Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris is a high-level global event focused on mobilizing political and financial commitments to end malnutrition in all its forms. It brings together governments, donors, businesses, and civil society to accelerate progress toward achieving global nutrition targets and ensuring healthier, more resilient populations. (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP) (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images) The Standing Together for Nutrition Consortium is calling on governments and donors to take urgent action, affirming that 'Failure to act now will result not only in a drastic increase in child mortality but also in long-term societal damage.' Recommendations include restoring humanitarian nutrition programs, scaling up evidence-based interventions, broadening funding streams— including domestic and private-sector sources— and strengthening data systems for crisis response. Experts are urging governments and donors to look beyond traditional aid. Development banks and international finance institutions, whose lending is already allocated for the next several years, could integrate nutrition into concessional loan frameworks. The private sector could be incentivized to provide workforce nutrition programs. Small and medium enterprises could receive support to produce locally made, highly nutritious complementary foods for young children. 'There's a massive opportunity here,' says Haddad. 'Governments can use some of the remaining aid to help countries access concessional loans and integrate nutrition into those packages. Most banks haven't figured out how to include nutrition— or don't think they have the mandate. Some even worry they'll lose their credit rating because nutrition is seen as too risky.' Haddad also calls on the private sector to do more: 'Why aren't we incentivizing companies to run workforce nutrition programs? Offer tax breaks. It's good for workers and good for the bottom line.' Osendarp agrees and sees hope in emerging coalitions. 'There's a growing dialogue between the climate and nutrition communities,' she says. 'We're starting to see investment in local food production, climate-smart agriculture, and nutritious foods for infants being produced by small businesses. These movements existed before the cuts, but now they must be accelerated. We need to unlock these other sources of funding— and fast.' Unless timely action is taken, ongoing cuts to nutrition funding are likely to lead to further loss of life— weakening treatment systems, limiting prevention efforts, and reversing years of progress. This represents a significant public health challenge with far-reaching, long-term consequences. By the time that this article has been read, seven more children will have died— victims of a crisis for which proven solutions already exist.
