The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) announced that it has received a $28.9 million support for the plan it is implementing to scale-up early detection and treatment for child malnutrition in Yemen.
The support was granted by US Agency for International Developments Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). A large portion of this grant will be used to procure Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children, Unicef said in a statement.
"In Yemen today, more than half a million children under the age of five suffer from severe acute malnutrition which is a life threatening condition. Thanks to generous donors like USAID/BHA, UNICEF is able to provide lifesaving assistance to these children," Unicef Representative to Yemen Philippe Duamelle said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations confirmed that the number of Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection has increased this year by 13% compared to last year.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen said in a report that more than 23.4 million people, or nearly three quarters of the population, need assistance and protection in 2022, compared to about 21 million in 2021.
According to the United Nations, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is one of the worst in the world, as the severe economic deterioration has exacerbated needs in all sectors, increased the suffering of children and their families, displaced millions, and made food prices out of reach for many.
