Islamabad, 13 December 2022 (TDI): USAID and UNICEF have continued to provide funds for the children affected by Pakistan floods during this year’s monsoon season.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Pakistan to coordinate government humanitarian efforts.
Moreover, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is working with the government and its partners.
It is providing children and families with safe drinking water, life-saving medical equipment, therapeutic food supplies, and hygiene kits.
Additionally, UNICEF has also set up temporary learning facilities and is assisting with the mental wellness and protection of kids impacted by the terrible floods.
In September, the Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power said that an additional $20 million in humanitarian aid will be provided by the US through USAID to Pakistan’s flood victims.
Moreover, UNICEF has also provided 32 metric tons of medical supplies to help save the lives of children and women. UNICEF has also carried out relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas.
Currently, USAID and UNICEF are acquiring ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) worth 5 million US dollars. This food is to treat children in flood-affected areas of Pakistan who are severely and acutely malnourished.
In the areas impacted by the floods in Pakistan, an estimated 1.6 million people are severely acutely malnourished.
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Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)
André Briend, a French research scientist, created RUTF paste 25 years ago. its commercial selling started in the early 2000s. It contains a blend of vitamins and minerals, peanuts, butter, vegetable oil, sugar, and powdered milk.
“Ready-to-use therapeutic food,” is a life-saving vital supply item that treats serious waste in children under the age of five. Wasting is characterized as low weight-for-height and occurs when a person consumes insufficient quantities of poor-quality food.
Furthermore, there is a higher risk of death among children who are malnourished and are not treated well.
