Madagascar: WFP helping fight
malnutrition
 |
| School children enjoy a break from classes at a school on the outskirts of Antananarivo (AFP) |
Pope Francis arrives in Madagascar, on the second leg of his
Apostolic Visit to three southern African nations, on Friday evening. Although
the Island Nation is rich in resources it is vulnerable to climatic disasters
and political instability has undermined economic growth and development.
By Vatican News
Issues that have to do with the care of the environment,
development t and social justice will be central during Pope Francis’ apostolic
visit to Madagascar.
The Indian Ocean Island is the fourth largest island in
the world. It boasts a unique ecosystem, with many species of plants and
animals found nowhere else. Despite the potential of the country, the
population is impoverished due to political instability which has undermined
government institutional capacity, economic growth and development
efforts. It has also reduced people's access to basic services and their
ability to prevent and recover from frequent climatic shocks.
According to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP),
92% of Madagascar's population lives on less than US$ 1,90 per day. And,
affecting almost half of all children under 5 - the world’s fourth
highest rate – chronic malnutrition is considered a major public health
concern in Madagascar.
Cedric Charpentier, Vice Director for WFP’s
Madagascar Programme, told Vatican News how the agency is present on the island
nation with a series of projects to assist the population, 42% of which suffers
from malnutrition.
But first he speaks about the reasons the resource-rich
nation is afflicted by this problem.
Charpentier explains that there is the need to educate the
population as regards the most suitable food practices for health. He says that
Madagascar has huge potential and that there are areas where agriculture works
well, but there are also many areas where natural resources are continually
threatened by the high frequency of climate shocks and where public
infrastructure is limited.
Madagascar, Charpentier notes, is one of the ten African
countries most exposed to natural disasters, and it is the first on the
continent for the damage caused by cyclones.
WFP objectives
Charpentier explains that WFP's interventions in Madagascar
are carried out in support of the government, in accordance with the objectives
of sustainable development of the United Nations to eliminate hunger and create
partnerships.
He says the agency has a strategic plan of 300 million US$
for the next five years and stresses the importance of strengthening the
relationship between humanitarian aid and development, of building resilience,
addressing the root causes of chronic vulnerability, and preparing people for
the capacity to respond to shocks.
Charpentier says most WFP projects are implemented in the
poorest regions of the country and address the most vulnerable people,
especially children and women.
Engaging with women
He explains that women are central to the projects being
implemented and says that particular attention is given to training women
because they do not have access to land ownership.
He also speaks of WFP’s commitment to sustain primary school
children providing meals and nutrition.
He notes that school canteens are fundamental and said there
are projects to increase their numbers because many more children are able to
pursue and education if they receive a meal. In Madagascar, he says, there are
24,000 public primary schools but only 1300 of them have canteens. This means
that only 350,000 students are guaranteed a meal a day. The other four million
children receive nothing to eat at school.
“There’s a lot more to be done for children,” Charpentier
said.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét