A threat to food security and malnutrition is ranked top under the notion of climate change and children. Climate change is posing a devastating threat on food security especially in countries that rely on rain fed agriculture such as Zimbabwe. A shortage in adequate food supply is in turn affecting the diet of children, especially those under five years old. The mostly affected populations are the rural folks and those living in poverty. According to the United Nations, in 2019 approximately 144 million children under the age of 5 were affected by stunting as a result of chronic malnutrition due to lack of adequate and nutritious food. In November 2019, farmers in Zimbabwe received only 55% of normal rainfall and the country was hit by a drought. One said to instigate what can be recorded as the decade’s worst hunger crisis. The country entered phase 3 food crisis obviously coupled by the increase in staple food price by up to 31%, exacerbated by shortage of supplies. The World Food Programme made efforts to assist close to 7.7 million people that had been plunged into hunger across the country. What about the children’s diet, health and wellbeing? If food aid enough to provide a balanced diet and restore good health?
Statistics show that 1 in 3 children in Zimbabwe under the age of 5, are suffering from malnutrition, while 93% of children between 6 months and 2 years of age are not consuming the minimum acceptable diet. There is a noticeable rise in incidence of deadly diseases linked to micro-nutrient deficiency such as pellagra and these health implications are directly and indirectly linked to climate change. A phenomenon behind the increased frequency of droughts and other harsh weather conditions that affect agriculture and food security.
More than 600 cases of pellagra were recorded 5 months after Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It was the first time in years that cases of pellagra had been recorded. A cause for concern as 715 300 hectares of crops were swept away and collectively more than 3 000 children under the age of 5 were diagnosed with life threatening severe acute malnutrition. Climate change induced disasters such as tropical cyclones, floods and veld fires have the ability to mercilessly sweep off entire farmlands, kill livestock, destroy homes, supermarkets, grain stores and any infrastructure available that is not resilient to the applied pressure. These disasters can leave populations stranded, homeless, jobless, abandoned with no food to eat, water to drink and anywhere to run to for assistance.
Children are affected the most in the face of climate change induced disasters. They have weak immune systems and consistently require adequate food to grow healthy and be fully developed. Unfortunately for some, this is all a mirage. Their lives will either take one of these two scenarios. Scenario A; a child suffers malnutrition and becomes more susceptible to preventable diseases such as measles. Scenario B: a child survives as a malnourished child but with severely impacted development of vital organs and body functions which will in turn lead to health complications. Either way there is no saving or escaping and this situation will be more dire if climate change goes unabated.
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