World Vision will launch a blanket supplementary
feeding program which aims to assist 100,000 refugees in Chad over the
next 6 months.
The international relief and development
agency will distribute food to children under five-years-of age, pregnant
and lactating women in all 11 refugee camps in north-eastern Chad in its
'blanket feeding program'. World Vision is also assisting the most vulnerable
in the local community
'Blanket feeding' ensures the most vulnerable receive sugar, vegetable oil and 'corn soy blend', which is pre-mixed to make a nutritious porridge-like meal. Pre-mixing minimises 'on-selling' of the commodities.
Of the refugee population targeted with the supplementary feeding program, 60,000 are children under five, pregnant and lactating women.
"There is a higher than normal percentage of children under five in this relief situation. Generally, there about 20 per cent of children under five in refugee settings, however in this case it is 27 per cent," said Emergency Officer, Nick Wasunna.
World Vision's program aims to assist 60,000 people via the feeding program and another 40,000 people will participate in nutritional training.
"Due to the previous erratic food supply, people's nutritional needs were not being met. World Vision is addressing that need by giving additional rations to boost nutritional status in these vulnerable groups. It is like receiving a side-dish to your main meal.
Blanket feeding ensures everyone receives food rations, regardless of refugee status. The program is a response to the alarming rate of malnutrition among children and women," said Wasunna.
Nutritional education will be conducted at the distribution centres through a variety of interactive and innovational media including drama, song, dance and leaflet handouts. People will be taught to recognise the early warning signs of malnutrition and methods to minimise. Advice on balanced diets and how to use the supplementary food rations will be included in the education.
"Child protection activities are incorporated in this program. During the twice monthly food distributions, children who are not at risk of malnutrition will be accompanied to a child-friendly space while they are waiting for their family. Children will participate in activities such as drawing, games, singing," said Child Protection Co-ordinator, Ahna Burke.
World Vision is negotiating with the overall relief co-ordinating body, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; supplier of food, the World Food Programme; the UN's children's fund, UNICEF; and other humanitarian aid agencies to implement this program.
World Vision is responding to the needs of Sudanese refugees who have been fleeing into neighbouring Chad since August 2003. Before humanitarian assistance commenced, people fleeing relied on the local population to provide food and shelter.
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