(Adnkronos) – More than 416,000 children in Syria are now at significant risk of severe malnutrition following the sudden suspension of foreign aid that has forced the closure of a third of Save the Children’s life-saving nutrition activities, the international organization that has been fighting for over 100 years to save children at risk and guarantee them a future. Data collected by a group of humanitarian organizations operating in Syria shows that in almost half of the country’s districts, more than 50% of children under the age of five suffering from severe acute malnutrition are not receiving the care they need. Cases of malnutrition in Syria have been on the rise for years, but funding cuts have exacerbated an already dire situation.
Twenty out of 50 Save the Children nutrition programs in Syria have been forced to abruptly cease operations, suspending vital assistance for over 40,500 children under the age of five. These centers provided therapeutic foods such as fortified peanut paste and milk, as well as health services to treat and prevent severe and acute malnutrition.
Child malnutrition weakens the immune system, stunts growth and makes children highly vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. Without timely treatment, the most severe form, known as wasting, can quickly become fatal. “The closure of these nutrition centers comes at the worst possible time. Needs in Syria are higher than ever, yet the funds needed to support the youngest are being eroded. These are not just numbers, they are real children, real lives, left to die. Children in Syria have already endured more than 14 years of conflict, displacement and economic collapse. They are paying the price of decisions made thousands of miles away. The international community must intervene urgently to fill this gap, we cannot play politics with children’s lives,” said Bujar Hoxha, Save the Children’s Syria Country Director.
According to nutritional data, over 650,000 children under the age of five in Syria suffer from chronic malnutrition. This long-term form of malnutrition, also known as stunting, causes irreversible damage to children’s physical and cognitive development, compromising their ability to learn and be productive, with consequences that can last a lifetime. After 14 years of conflict, the Syrian health system and economy are on the brink of collapse and most families are unable to afford food, clean water or basic medical care. Today, more than 7.5 million children across the country are in need of humanitarian assistance, the highest number since the crisis began.
The impact of foreign aid cuts is being felt across Syria. Even clinics that have not been forced to close are now even more overcrowded, experiencing a surge in malnutrition cases and struggling to cope with the growing demand for care. Save the Children is calling on international donors to urgently restore funding for essential nutrition services in Syria and ensure that children continue to receive the life-saving care they need. Save the Children has been working in Syria since 2012 and supports families across the country, both directly and through local partners. The Organization provides nutrition services, healthcare, education, protection and economic assistance to help children survive, recover and build a better future.
