John Egbuta, Nutrition Coordinator for the U.N. Inter-Agency Group for Iraq, says UNICEF has lead the way in achieving recent falls in malnutrition rates among Iraqi children under five years.
But he says malnutrition levels could skyrocket in the event of a conflict, and more help will be needed from the international community.
"There might be a sharp rise again up to about 50 per cent if there was war and that is a very, very high figure to cope with, so it will call for resources, in terms of manpower, in terms of funding in terms of materials. There is a need for donor agencies to think about how best to assist Iraq when that time comes."
For further information please contact us:.
Geoffrey Keele, UNICEF Iraq: gkeele@unicef.org
Anis Salem, UNICEF Amman: asalem@unicef.org
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Geneva: wbelmonte@unicef.org,
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF New York, aironside@unicef.org
For additional information on UNICEF in Iraq, please see:
http://www.unicef.org/media/iraqpressroom.htm
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org
To learn more of the effects of the Gulf War on Iraqi children, please see:
An Invitation to a Presentation on U.S. Uranium Weapons - A Vital Part of the War Debate!
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=715&blz=1
and
Gulf War Profiteering:
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=313&blz=1
But he says malnutrition levels could skyrocket in the event of a conflict, and more help will be needed from the international community.
"There might be a sharp rise again up to about 50 per cent if there was war and that is a very, very high figure to cope with, so it will call for resources, in terms of manpower, in terms of funding in terms of materials. There is a need for donor agencies to think about how best to assist Iraq when that time comes."
For further information please contact us:.
Geoffrey Keele, UNICEF Iraq: gkeele@unicef.org
Anis Salem, UNICEF Amman: asalem@unicef.org
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Geneva: wbelmonte@unicef.org,
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF New York, aironside@unicef.org
For additional information on UNICEF in Iraq, please see:
http://www.unicef.org/media/iraqpressroom.htm
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org
To learn more of the effects of the Gulf War on Iraqi children, please see:
An Invitation to a Presentation on U.S. Uranium Weapons - A Vital Part of the War Debate!
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=715&blz=1
and
Gulf War Profiteering:
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=313&blz=1