Press Release on World Food Day

Thousands of malnourished children among the refugees, in Bangladesh, are in need, there is much more to be done, says World Vision

16 October 2017, Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

“My child is looking tiny. The spark from her eyes has faded; legs and hands are gradually desiccating like a
dry fish. Her frequency to responding to my call has slowed down and she has stopped crawling. She is suffering
from diarrhea for the last two days; she doesn’t intake anything accept breast-milk., says 25-year-old *Salma”.
Salma, her husband along with five children escaped from Myanmar at last 26 August 2017. According to data from the Inter-Sector Coordination Group, 126,175 pregnant and lactating women and
children under 5 need supplementary feeding. An estimated of 288,400 people need nutrition assistance.
The humanitarian needs on the ground are vast. 

Thousands of refugees face acute food shortage. Children are the most vulnerable. This World Food Day World Vision Bangladesh focuses on the pressing needs of the children, in the refugee camps.

Since 25 August an estimated 536,000 people have crossed the border into Bangladesh. Over half of the new arrivals are still living in spontaneous settlements with little access to aid, including shelter, food, clean water, and sanitation. The influx of refugees fleeing the violence continues till now.

"Lactating mothers who are malnourished themselves are facing difficulties to breast-feed. Children who are severe and moderate acute malnourished are at high risk. We have limited time and interventions to stop the irreversible effects chronic malnutrition," Md. Mezanur Rahman, Technical Program Manager- Health, Nutrition and WASH, World Vision.

 

Thousands of children are under the age of five and many of them are severely malnourished suffering health problems from a lack of access to nutritious food.

In response to the government call for assistance, World Vision has already distributed complete food packages for 25,250 people in 5050 vulnerable families in the first phase of relief distribution on 24 September. In partnership with World Food Program (WFP), World Vision provides supplementary food package in the second phase to meet the immediate needs of 40,000 people (8000 families) that is ended on 15 October.

"World Vision in the first phase of the response focusing on food programming has just completed reaching 65000 people. There is still more to be done. In coordination with the government and other aid organisation we are ready to support and further meet the needs of the most vulnerable children," Jared Berends, Senior Operations Director, World Vision Bangladesh.

The team further looks into the pressing needs of the refugees especially the children, elderly, pregnant women, lactating mothers and the most vulnerable.

World Vision is coordinating with government authorities and non-profit relief groups on the ground to reach those most in need.

 

For more information:

Saibal Sangma

Director - Communications, World Vision Bangladesh

Phone: +88 02 982 1004-11, Cell Phone: 01711543507,

Fax: +88 02 9821055, Saibal_sangma@wvi.org, Skype: saibal.sangma

Web: www.wvi.org/bangladesh

National Office Address:

Abedin Tower (Level 2), 35 Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani,

Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh. PO Box 9071, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Notes to editors:

• World Vision has been working in Bangladesh since 1972 when it started with emergency relief operations.
• For 20 years, World Vision has had a regular field presence 67km from the affected area in Cox’s Bazar where it runs a community development program.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation conducting relief, development and advocacy activities in its work with children, families, and their communities in nearly 100 countries to help them reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.