France boosts WFP’s fight against malnutrition in Cox’s Bazar

France has donated €400,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support nutrition activities for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

The donation will increase WFP’s nutrition programme targeting young children, pregnant women and nursing women and address acute malnutrition in the settlement.

Marie-Annick Bourdin, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh commented:

“France hopes that its 2018 support will further benefit both Rohingya refugees and local communities exposed to moderate acute malnutrition and warmly thanks WFP for its continuous efforts.”

Thanks to France’s contribution 5,000 children under 5 and over 1,000 pregnant and nursing women will benefit from WFP’s nutritional support.

WFP Bangladesh Country Director Christa Räder said:

“The nutrition situation in the camps remains critical. This is of particular concern for young children, nursing mothers and pregnant women. France’s contribution will help us address this situation.”

Earlier this month UNICEF reported that over 16,000 babies have born in the Cox’s Bazar settlement since August 2017, when 700,000 refugees fled Myanmar.

Surveys taken by the UN in late 2017 revealed that malnutrition rates in the refugee camp were above the emergency threshold of 15% and revealed that almost 50% of all children in the camp suffer from anaemia.

WFP’s supports vulnerable women and children in the camp by proving a fortified and nutritious porridge and offers training and advice on good nutrition practices.

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Image credit: WFP