Another preventable case

World Vision Syria Response feels strongly about adding another story to the heartbreaking hunger crisis portfolio in Syria. But no matter what it takes, we will keep advocating for this alarming issue until we see drastic positive change reflected in people’s lives and most importantly children.

It’s the same foreseeable effect, weathering bodies and preventable fate leading to dangerously low Body Mass Index, sunken eyes and curved shoulders. However, reasons vary from displacement to poor living conditions to skyrocketing food prices to inability to secure a job therefore inability to put food on the table.

All roads lead to Rome they say, but we all wish for a road leading to a silver lining and a brighter future. Unfortunately, future isn’t looking the brightest for these children.

Selma*, a child of only seven months, almost lost her life before it began. Her body fought with every cell it could not to lose itself to lack of food and malnourishment but it almost gave up. She isn’t just another story of malnourishment; she is a child who survived an ordeal that could be easily prevented.

Her mother is unemployed which is common in Syria knowing that more than half of the population is unemployed. However, with the scarce support she received from humanitarian organisation she was able to keep her daughter alive.

However, Selma’s body was developing and required nutrients which scrapes of food didn’t provide. As a result, she began taking less and less space, her mother felt her weight decrease as she carried her crying baby and hummed hoping her calming voice would put her to sleep. But the truth is, Selma’s stomach was empty and eating itself. With every second, Selma lost the glimmer in her eyes, they began revealing the tiring reality of living in conflict and displacement camps.

This broke her mother’s heart. No mother could endure her child withering in front of her eyes.

One day she saw a group of people wearing a beige vest with green and red logos on them. They were entering people’s tents and exiting after a while. Then she heard a knock at her tent. She opened the veil to see the same people who introduced themselves as the Mobile Malnutrition Screening Team from Action for Humanity. She immediately invited them in and asked them to help her daughter. Selma was lying inside staring into the dark.

After examining her, it was evident she suffered from severe malnutrition. As a result, they provided her with the needed medical help and welcomed her to the medical centre to conduct the needed test.

After a couple of months and close consultation, Selma began making improvements, her weight began increasing and life was breathed back into her.

“I thank God for the existence of such clinics! They helped my daughter through this journey and provided her support to recover from malnutrition!” her mother mentions.

Selma is one of 225,362 to receive medical help under the GIRO-funded project. Thanks to such support, World Vision Syria Response and its local implementing Partner, Action for Humanity continue facing the hunger crisis across Syrian displacement camps.

*Names are changed to protect identity.