WFP welcomes KSrelief contribution to fight malnutrition in Sudan
$1.4 million funding will help more than 35,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers impacted by ongoing crisis Saudi aid agency KSrelief recently signed two agreements with the World Food Programme, totaling $1.4 million, to treat and prevent m
The agreements were signed by KSrelief Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain on the sidelines of the International Conference for Sudan and Neighboring Countries, organized by France and the EU in Paris.
The agreement aims to prevent nutritional deficiencies among children and pregnant and nursing women by providing food aid and distributing 132.4 tons of nutritional supplements.
The funding will help more than 35,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers impacted by conflict, economic shocks, and climate events. This includes almost 29,000 in Sudan who have been caught up in the war and almost 6,000 in South Sudan who are impacted by an ongoing humanitarian crisis driven by conflict and economic and climate crises.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Moallem, director of KSrelief ’s health and environmental aid department said: “We are committed to supporting vulnerable population groups in Sudan and South Sudan, and to fostering a healthier and more resilient future for all communities.
“Today’s event allows us to highlight the signing of two projects with the WFP for a total cost of $1.4 million to provide emergency nutritional aid for children and for pregnant and lactating women. These programs will enable those in need to access vital food and medical assistance and will help to fight famine and malnutrition in both countries.” Michael Dunford, WFP regional director for the East Africa region, said: “This funding comes at a critical time, it’s been one year since the conflict in Sudan began and has since spiraled into what may soon be the world’s largest hunger crisis.
“With extreme hunger comes malnutrition and we have already started to receive reports of children in Sudan dying of starvation. Support for our nutrition programs is critical to prevent these deaths as well as the long-term impacts of childhood malnutrition.”
In Sudan, 4.9 million children under the age of five and pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished — a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Of these, 730,000
children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In South Sudan, 1.6 million children and 870,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are expected to be malnourished this year.
In his address at the conference, Al-Rabeeah said: “Saudi Arabia will not allow turning a blind eye to the Sudanese crisis and its neighboring countries or forgetting it. It was at the forefront of those calling for the importance of reaching lasting and comprehensive peace in this country and supporting the humanitarian efforts there.
“At a time when the Kingdom played a pivotal role in hosting and facilitating negotiations to resolve the conflict in Sudan, the Kingdom’s leadership directed the provision of aid to Sudan worth $100 million and announced the addition of more than $20 million. In the coming period, the Kingdom will implement relief and humanitarian projects in Sudan and neighboring countries with more than $61 million in coordination with the UN and international and local organizations.”
Al-Rabeeah, confirmed that the close ties between Saudi Arabia and Sudan had seen the Kingdom move urgently to operate relief bridges, including 13 aircraft and four sea bridges, to provide comprehensive humanitarian aid. “It implemented 43 humanitarian projects in Sudan and neighboring countries, amounting to more than $59 million, in partnership with international and local organizations. The center also sent 20 volunteer medical teams to Sudan,” he said.