Introduction
                          Introduction
     • Most deaths in emergencies, 33% to 50% 
       associated with malnutrition.
     • Food and nutrition programmes cost up to 50% of 
       the budget for humanitarian aid. 
     • Food and nutrition issues in Emergencies
        – The right to food is more critical than any other human 
           right
        – Food security is usually an issue in emergencies and if 
           prolonged ends in nutritional emergency
                                      
                                      
              Nutrition in Emergencies
              Nutrition in Emergencies
     • The type of emergency and context will 
        determine the rate of onset and severity of food 
        insecurity
     • Famine occurs when a considerable increase in 
        deaths associated with inadequate food 
        consumption.
         The consequences of famine:
             Physiological (increase in deaths, infections)
             Psychological (altered patterns of behaviour focused in 
               seeking food)
             Social (Weakened family ties as some members have to 
               leave home to search for food).
                                        
                                        
            Conflicts and complex 
             Conflicts and complex 
                      emergencies
                      emergencies
     • Most hunger occur in such situations among 
       uprooted people cut off from markets due to 
       violent conflicts
     • Conflicts can create famines as well disrupt 
       famine-operations in the following ways:
        Disrupting the agricultural cycle
        Driving farmers from their land
        Interfering with the marketing process
        Destroying food stores & decreased access 
        Creating food shortages and thus price increase
                                    
                                    
       Aim of nutrition in emergencies
       Aim of nutrition in emergencies
   •  … to reduce mortality associated with malnutrition and to improve the 
      nutrition status of the affected population and prevent their situation 
      from deteriorating. 
   •  Major food and nutrition issues surrounding emergencies:
       – Risk factors for malnutrition in complex emergencies 
       – Access to adequate food (in terms of quantity and quality) 
       – Limited ability of the affected population to produce own food or to 
          supplement relief food
   •  The challenges faced by the relief agencies in providing adequate, 
      culturally appropriate and familiar foods to the affected population.
   •  Empowering the affected populations to acquire some level of self-
      sufficiency in food security.