UN Report Warns of Imminent Nutrition Crisis in Pakistan
UN report warns of imminent nutrition crisis in Pakistan due to existing high malnutrition rates, particularly among young children. 84 districts affected by last year’s floods show distressing nutrition indicators, with severe acute malnutrition impacting over 3.5 million children.
Factors contributing to malnutrition include poor maternal nutrition, inadequate sanitation, suboptimal care and feeding practices, and limited access to essential nutrition services. Approximately 10.5 million people in vulnerable provinces are facing acute food insecurity, with rising prices and limited livelihood options worsening the situation. Pakistan is classified as a hotspot of critical acute food insecurity, with an estimated 8.6 million individuals at risk from June to November 2023.
Economic and political crises have further worsened households’ ability to afford food and essential commodities. Recent heavy rains and storms have caused additional damage, leading to loss of life, injuries, and destruction of properties and crops. Emergency preparedness and contingency planning are being prioritized, with a focus on including women in planning and response efforts to address the needs of vulnerable individuals.
UN: 110 Million People Forcedly Displaced, Highest Ever Recorded
The United Nations (UN) reported a historic high of 110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, labeling it a condemnation of the global state. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, attributed this surge to factors like refugees escaping Afghanistan, the Ukraine conflict, Sudan’s turmoil, and climate change.
The number of individuals seeking refuge abroad and those internally displaced within their countries reached an unprecedented level. By May, the global total had risen from 108.4 million at the end of the previous year. UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi expressed concern about the impact of conflict, persecution, discrimination, violence, and climate change, emphasizing that this situation reflects poorly on our world.
This increase of 19.1 million from the previous year marks the largest-ever rise since records began in 1975.