13.6 million children are at risk of malnutrition

world food day

On the occasion of World Food Day, Save the Children launched a “Hunger Emergency” campaign to raise funds on malnutrition and launched a petition to ask future government for more investments to prevent emergencies and strengthen local communities to make them less vulnerable to future crises.

Forecasting –

Because of the severe food emergency, by the end of 2022, at least 222 million people in 53 regions of the world could face acute hunger, the highest number since the surveys began, and 45 million in 37 countries are one step away from famine. In addition, 970,000 people are already facing famine-like conditions in 5 countries, Somalia, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Yemen, according to Save the Children.

shocking numbers –

Worldwide, as many as 345 million people do not get enough nutritious food, to the point that their lives and livelihoods are in grave danger. A number that has increased by more than 150% since 2019 and reflects unprecedented levels of hunger in the world. Suffice it to say that every 4 seconds a person around the world dies of extreme hunger. If action is not taken immediately, in the coming months in six countries, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, widespread hunger and death will spread.

The initiative in Circus Maximus

– The organization wanted to show the face of SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) printed on a huge banner at Circus Maximus in Rome completely blank. SAM represents the face of all the girls and boys in the world who are at risk of dying from malnutrition, surrounded by silence and indifference in the entire world.

“We must hurry” –

Severe malnutrition, Save the Children explains, causes stunting, impairs physical and mental development, and increases the risk of fatal disease. said Daniela Vatarella, Director General of Save the Children, Italy.

‘We need a structural approach’ –

“We cannot think of acting solely with the aim of responding to emergencies and with short-term interventions and resources. We need a structural approach to address the causes of the problems, long-term vision and policies, backed by flexible funds. Strengthening the resilience of communities, and at the same time, it is essential that you have those Mechanisms that are able to anticipate risks, prevent crises, alert and respond to them immediately – as Fatarella notes – crises like this will continue to repeat themselves if action is not taken in place of the necessary prevention.”

the petition –

“Today we are launching a petition to specifically ask the future Italian government and international institutions to immediately allocate the resources necessary to save the lives of those already affected by the food crisis and more investments to prevent emergencies. We also ask that they be significantly increased .. resources for international cooperation, the sustainable development of the planet and the well-being of people …so that we don’t witness the death of a helpless child anymore.”