Capitals: Europe and the Arabs
Four UN agencies have launched an initiative to address malnutrition in the Middle East and North Africa region, in light of the high prevalence of stunting among children in 6 countries in the region, endangering the physical growth and cognitive development of 7.5 million children. According to a UN news release we received A copy of it on Tuesday morning
  A joint statement issued by the regional offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization referred to the positive steps taken since 1990 and the decrease in the prevalence of chronic undernourishment from 19.1% in 2012 to 15.3% last year.
However, the four agencies emphasized that challenges still exist in the region. She said wasting, the most fatal form of malnutrition, was a major problem in a number of countries.
  "The average wasting rate of more than 6% in the region masks alarming levels of more than 15% in some countries," according to the statement. On the other hand, the agencies reported that the number of overweight and obese children under the age of five has remained stable at 5 million over the past decade.
Adele Khedr, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said malnutrition, caused by a lack of access to nutritious foods, basic services and optimal feeding practices, continues to affect millions of children. She stated that this collaborative framework between the four agencies paves the way for collective action to address persistent challenges.
Abdel Hakim Al-Waer, the regional representative of the FAO, said that the Arab region still suffers from multiple forms of malnutrition, and that more than half of the population of Arab countries, or 162.7 million people, could not afford a healthy diet in 2020.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director of the World Health Organization, warned of the effects of malnutrition, stunting and wasting, which affect millions of children in the region, despite efforts to combat them.
"Tackling the challenge of growing malnutrition is not the job of one organization, it takes a collective effort," said Corinne Fleischer, WFP's Regional Director. "It's not just about providing food, it's about providing the right food, education and support systems that build a sustainable and healthy future for every child."