UNICEF Warns of Nutrition Crisis Affecting 165,000 Children in Mali

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that a nutrition crisis, exacerbated by continuing violence, instability and displacement, is threatening the lives and futures of thousands of children in Mali.

A report published today shows that an estimated 165,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition across the country in 2018, UN.org reported.

“Behind these figures are the lives of the most vulnerable and forgotten girls and boys in Mali,” UNICEF Representative Lucia Elmi said in a press release.

“We must provide life-saving treatment and ensure each and every one of these children can fully recover. At the same time, we need to invest in the critical first 1,000 days of the lives of children to reduce the risk of acute malnutrition from occurring in the first place,” Elmi added.

The rate of acute malnutrition among children under five has reached critical levels in the conflict-affected areas of Timbuktu and Gao, while the national rate also remains very high.
 [farsnews.com]
 10/10/17