Democratic Republic of the Congo remains one of the largest hunger crises on earth, with almost 26 million people facing food insecurity
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a EUR 2.5 million contribution from the Government of France to help stem malnutrition amongst hundreds of children under two years old in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Africa.
The contribution, which has been provided through the France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will help WFP provide nutrition products to prevent and treat acute malnutrition to some 140,000 children, pregnant and nursing women in the Kasaï-Central and Kasaï-Oriental provinces where the nutrition situation remains alarming.
Latest estimates indicate that some 2.4 million children under five years of age and some 1.7 million pregnant and nursing women are suffering from acute malnutrition with 45 percent of deaths, among children under five related to malnutrition.
In addition to providing nutritious food, WFP will invest in building the skills of nursing mothers to improve their knowledge of caring and feeding practices.
WFP’s nutrition activities ensure its assistance addresses the different experiences, needs and priorities of women, men, and children. Despite the challenging operating environment, WFP and partners have treated some 1.4 million malnourished children and pregnant and nursing women as of October this year. While contributions from donors such as France are invaluable, WFP requires an additional $90 million to carry-out critical treatment and prevention of malnutrition activities fully for a year.
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