The European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) on Monday provided €3 million (Euros) to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to combat malnutrition among women and children affected by emergencies in Pakistan.
This support comes at a critical time, as malnutrition is a key concern in Pakistan especially in areas which have been hit by successive emergencies. These funds will help UNICEF and its partners in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces to increase the coverage of the ‘Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition’ which aims to provide essential life-saving interventions covering a total population of 1.9 million and providing nutrition services to 266,000 people.
“Addressing acute malnutrition of women and children affected by disasters in Pakistan is an urgent priority for us,” said ECHO’s chief in Islamabad, David Sevcik. “We also believe ECHO’s support provides an important platform from which developmental partners can further address the structural causes of malnutrition.”
In close coordination with nutrition partners, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, the programme ensures harmonisation in implementation and elimination of gaps and overlaps. It includes components to build service providers’ capacities, promotion of infant and young child feeding practices, micro-nutrient supplementation and de-worming treatments for children and pregnant and lactating women.
“We are grateful to ECHO for this timely contribution that will help UNICEF and partners to continue the much needed nutritional support to families affected by emergencies, some of which are displaced from their homes and still living in camps or with host communities,” said UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Dan Rohrman.
The programme also includes identification and referral of severely malnourished children for treatment wherein they receive ready to use food and essential medical support. Children with complications are referred to medical care at the district hospital.
