More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck
by what is called wasting, according to the UN.
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.
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