Nearly two million children may soon die of malnutrition and starvation due to a shortage of a therapeutic food product used to treat the condition.
Currently, children in four countries---specifically Mali, Nigeria, Niger, and Chad---have run out or are on the brink of exhausting their supplies of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). This peanut-based, high-nutrient product is used by health experts to treat malnutrition.
Numerous other countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda are also expected to exhaust their supply of RUTF by mid-2025.
"Urgent action is needed now to save the lives of nearly two million children who are fighting this silent killer," UNICEF Director of Child Nutrition and Development Victor Aguayo said in a press release.
Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food Supply Shortage
Per the health organization, the global supply chain of RUTF products was disrupted due to war, civil conflicts, and economic crises. In Africa's Sahel region, these conditions were further exacerbated due to prolonged droughts and flooding.
UNICEF is now calling for a donation of $165 million to refresh its supplies of RUTF and fund medical treatment for the two million children at risk of dying from malnutrition and starvation due to the shortage in supply. That is on top of the $100 million donation from the United States, as reported by The New York Times.
How Does Malnutrition Affect Children
There are an estimated 19 million children under the age of 5 worldwide believed to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition. These children have weak immune systems and are highly vulnerable to diseases. They are typically stunted and may have prominent ribs and other bones. Fluid may also build up in their arms, face, and legs.
Each year, roughly 400,000 children with severe acute malnutrition die.
To treat the condition, UNICEF and other health organizations use RUTF and other similar products. RUTF is essentially "amplified" peanut butter paste often containing peanut butter, powdered milk sugar, vegetable oil, and vitamins and minerals. This product, along with medical care, can treat severe malnutrition within eight weeks.
