Malnutrition in Iraq – UNICEF appeals to public generosity

[18 May 2007 - 09h46]

Today, millions of Iraqi children are struck by malnutrition and disease. Already decimated by the blind violence tearing the country apart, now almost 10% are suffering from acute malnutrition. Hence the urgent appeal launched by UNICEF France.

Ten per cent is already a massive number but it’s thought that this will rise to as much as 50% among the under-5s! Routine vaccinations abandoned, delayed growth problems, weight loss and nutritional failure… Iraqi children are paying a very high price for war. Access to drinking water is critical and with the arrival of the summer heat, infantile diarrhoea is beginning to take hold.

“If nothing is done”, warns Dan Toole (director of UNICEF emergency programmes), “we can’t hope to improve the health and nutrition of Iraqi civilians”. UNICEF needs 20 million dollars for the most urgent aid and “only 11% have been received so far”…

Another major challenge for the international community – the two million refugees who have fled to Syria and Jordan. The health services in these two neighbouring countries have been sorely tested by the considerable burden of these migrants with nothing to their name. “Aid must be increased right away”, insists Dan Tool. Because “the risk of epidemic outbreaks grows greater every day”. UNICEF is therefore appealing to your generosity to lend support to its action. You can send your donations via the internet by clicking here.

Source : UNICEF, April 2007

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