Hunger Killing Over 10,000 Children a Month Owing to Covid-19 Curbs- UN

Business Standard Hunger killing over 10,000 children a month owing to Covid-19 curbs: UN

More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck by what is called wasting, according to the UN.

Coronavirus and its restrictions are pushing already hungry communities over the edge, killing an estimated 10,000 more young children a month as meager farms are cut off from markets and villages are isolated from food and medical aid, the United Nations warned Monday.

In the call to action shared with The Associated Press ahead of publication, four UN agencies warned that growing malnutrition would have long-term consequences, transforming individual tragedies into a generational catastrophe.

Hunger is already stalking Haboue Solange Boue, an infant from Burkina Faso who lost half her former body weight of 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) in just a month. Coronavirus restrictions closed the markets, and her family sold fewer vegetables. Her mother was too malnourished to nurse.

"My child", Danssanin Lanizou whispered, choking back tears as she unwrapped a blanket to reveal her baby's protruding ribs.

More than 550,000 additional children each month are being struck by what is called wasting, according to the UN malnutrition that manifests in spindly limbs and distended bellies. Over a year, that's up 6.7 million from last year's total of 47 million. Wasting and stunting can permanently damage children physically and mentally.

"The food security effects of the Covid crisis are going to reflect many years from now," said Dr. Francesco Branca, the WHO head of nutrition. There is going to be a societal effect.

From Latin America to South Asia to sub-Saharan Africa, more poor families than ever are staring down a future without enough food.