Chronic malnutrition grips western Nepal

The combined effects of conflict and large-scale drought have led to a high rate of chronic malnutrition in western parts of Nepal, reports Action Contre la Faim (ACF), a France-based international, non-profit devoted to hunger relief.

ACF, which has 220 volunteers including doctors and nurses in 19 countries, came to this conclusion following a month of nutritional assessment in the north-western part of Nepal. It found that less than 15% of the population of some north-western regions had food stocks. The rate of severe malnutrition was 3.3% and overall malnutrition rate of the areas is 12.3%.

The worst affected are children. Benoit Miribel, director general of the ACF described the condition of children as “alarming.”

“Malnutrition rates of children younger than 5 is 5 times higher than those in Darfur,” he said at a media briefing in Paris.

In the north-western region, 60% of children have basic nutritional problems, there is a 40% rate of anemia and 40% iodine deficiency.

Nepal has been witnessing armed conflict since the beginning of Maoists' led “People's war” in 1996. The conflict has claimed 14 000 lives, destroyed infrastructures and severely affected the economy of poor rural communities. Compounding the problem is the fact that the north-western region experienced its worst drought in 40 years from February to March this year.

• 47% of the farmers have not been able to harvest and the remaining ones have only collected 25%-50% of their usual harvest

• 42% of Nepalese live below the poverty line and more than a third consume fewer than 2250 Kcal per day

• 60% of households of mountainous areas are not self sufficient, while agricultural production only covers food requirement for 3–8 months per year.

It will be even more difficult for them in the coming months as the next harvest is not expected until September, said Jean-Pierre de Margerie, acting country director of World Food Programme (WFP) Nepal.

In the 19 days of recent protest against King Gyanendra, road travel was severely curtailed and curfews were imposed in major cities making it very difficult for aid agencies to continue food distribution. The protests ended after the King restored multiparty democracy on Apr. 24 by reinstating the dissolved parliament and handing over sovereignty to the people. After the restoration of democracy both the government and Maoists announced a ceasefire.

“There is a ceasefire in Nepal. Now I hope the government and international community would ensure the smooth running of development programs without any hindrance,” de Margerie said.

WFP Nepal is intensifying its program in the north-western part of Nepal and considering providing food assistance in these areas for the next 3 months, he added.

ACF is aiming to gather 15 tons of food to prevent the situation from getting worse. It appealed for 400 000 euros of aid to fund emergency programs.