Category: Save The Children

Source: Save The Children

ABUJA, 7 August 2023 – A relentless wave of attacks against farmers in Nigeria by armed groups is hindering critical food supplies and threatening to push the country deeper into a devastating hunger crisis this year, Save the Children said.   

Increased attacks against farmers across parts of the country are leading to displacement, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods. Armed groups killed more than 128 farmers and kidnapped 37 others across Nigeria between January and June 2023, according to the Nigerian Security Tracker. In June, 19 farmers were killed by non-state armed groups in Nigeria’s northern Borno State alone. 

As a farmer for 35 years in northeast Nigeria, Bulama is no stranger to insecurity; however, this year has been particularly difficult. Armed men have kidnapped or killed most of the farmers Bulama has worked with.

“On different occasions where we will be in the field farming, armed groups have attacked and kidnapped farmers who are our friends and brothers, requesting ransom – most times it’s an amount no villager can afford,” said Bulama.  

“They have killed and stolen our farm produce, leaving us helpless and with nothing to take home. The hunger and starvation most of us suffer in this community are because insurgents deprive us of accessing the farmlands, and even when we risk our lives in our fields, they steal everything and allow us to starve.” 

Bulama explained that although farming poses a threat to his life, if he stops, his children will die – a harrowing choice that is all too common for farmers in the north.  

In January, the UN estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity this year–a 47% increase from the 17 million people who were already at risk of going hungry–mainly due to the ongoing insecurity, protracted conflicts, and the projected rise in food prices.  

In addition, an estimated two million children under five across the northeastern Nigerian states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe are likely to be pushed into acute malnutrition in 2023, with about 700,000 children on the brink of death.  

It is also likely that even more people will be pushed into hunger than earlier predicted due to extreme weather events that are getting more frequent and severe due to the climate crisis.  

Bulama added: “The lack of rain this year has worsened the current hunger crisis my family is facing. All our remaining crops are dried and dead. It has taken us back to starting fresh because most farmers are cutting down their dried crops to plant new ones. We have nothing to eat and nowhere to go. We can go days without eating a meal.”

Nigeria recently declared a state of emergency on food insecurity to help tackle food shortages, stabilise rising prices, and increase protection for farmers facing violence from armed groups. However, without also addressing the climate crisis, farmers like Bulama will still struggle to feed their children when it is safe for them to farm.

Famari Barro, Save the Children’s Country Director for Nigeria, said: 

“These violent attacks against farmers in Nigeria are exacerbating the already dire hunger crisis in the country, especially in the north where millions of children do not know where their next meal will come from. Armed groups committing these ruthless acts are not only disrupting food production but also pushing children to the brink.

“Urgent action must prioritise the needs of children to stop this devastating trend and protect innocent lives. If not, armed groups will continue to carry out brutal attacks, drive food prices, and push more families to starvation.” 

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001 and has been responding to the humanitarian crisis in the northeast since 2014. Save the Children is providing food, clean water, nutrition and protection services, sexual and reproductive health care, and education to families across Northeast Nigeria. Save the Children is also providing technical support to the government on policy changes and reforms, especially in critical sectors such as health, education, and social protection among others.  

ENDS

Notes to Editor: 

• In June–August 2023, the number of people in CH Phase 3 or above is projected to increase to 25.3 million, representing around 13 percent of the analysed population. GRFC2023-compressed.pdf (fsinplatform.org)  
• According to the Global Food Crisis Report, banditry and kidnapping in the northwestern and northcentral states of Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Niger continued to hinder food production in 2022. Communal attacks and farmer–pastoralist conflict in Plateau and Benue states in 2022, led to population displacement, civilian fatalities, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods. GRFC2023-compressed.pdf (fsinplatform.org) 
• Annual inflation hit a 17-year high in October 2022 at just over 21%, driven by high food prices, increasing fuel and transportation costs, and limited foreign exchange reserves (FEWS NET, November 2022).  
• 25 million Nigerians at high risk of food insecurity in 2023 (unicef.org) 
• Nigeria has one of the world’s highest numbers of children both living in poverty and bearing the brunt of the climate crisis, according to a report by Save the Children last year. 
• In 2022, Nigeria experienced the worst floods to hit the country in a decade, worsening food insecurity in the country: Millions of Nigerians face starvation in the wake of the worst floods in a decade | World News | Sky News  

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For further enquiries please contact:

We have Save the Children’s Country Director for Nigeria (based in Abuja) and Save the Children’s Deputy Director for Humanitarian Program Operations (based in Borno) available as a spokesperson.

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

5 August 2023, Niamey, Niger – In Niger, a country already affected by multiple crises, humanitarian NGOs are warning that further instability could strongly deteriorate the living conditions of the most vulnerable, including women and children who are often the most vulnerable during times of crisis, and hamper the humanitarian response. The combination of sanctions and conflict with the existing vulnerabilities in Niger could have devastating effects on the lives of over 4.4 million people in country who are already in need of humanitarian assistance.

We, as independent and neutral humanitarian organisations, urge all stakeholders to do their utmost to minimize human suffering and to ensure that assistance can reach those in need, regardless of political situation or decisions.

We further urge all stakeholders to ensure that humanitarian actors can continue their essential work unimpeded and in full respect of humanitarian principles. We also advocate for the inclusion of humanitarian exemptions in all decisions, including sanctions, to prevent adverse impacts on civilians.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

We do not have spokespeople for media interview.

For further enquiries please contact:

· The Global Media Unit: gmu@savethechildren.org
· Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

BOGOTA, 4 August 2023 – A landmark truce agreed between the Colombian government and the ELN, the largest remaining rebel group in the country, allows for the recruitment of girls and boys over the age of 15 which must be addressed, said Save the Children.

The aid agency is dismayed that after 10 months of negotiations, the six-month truce, which entered into effect on Thursday, will be governed by a protocol that allows for the use of child soldiers.

The protocol – Article 2 of Decree 1117 of 2023 – is counter to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires armed groups not to recruit or use children under 18 years of age.

Save the Children called on Colombia to adopt all possible measures to prevent the recruitment of girls, boys, and adolescents and to guarantee the restoration of their rights.

Between 1990 to 2017, 16,238 children and adolescents were recruited by armed groups, in Colombia although it is understood the true figure could be as high as 40,000.

María Paula Martínez, Executive Director of Save the Children in Colombia, said:
“Save the Children rejects this protocol as well as any act that puts the lives and rights of children living throughout Colombia at risk. The protection of children should not be negotiable, but should be a starting point in any peace negotiation.

“The condition on recruitment is unacceptable. What if that boy or girl who may be recruited was your child? We must think of thousands of families whose lives have been torn apart by the scourge that is the use of children in war. Should the future of children be negotiated? Does this really contribute to peace?

“The ELN should not ignore international or national norms, and neither should it omit the commitments it has made in other spaces, for example, in 1998, in the Puerta del Cielo Agreement in Mainz, Germany. This group mentioned that in the future they were going to increase the age of recruitment to over 18 years of age, which did not happen. This Decree does not express their will to comply with it either.”

Save the Children has been working in Colombia since 1991, supporting children with education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation, as well as working with schools and communities affected by armed conflict.

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For further enquiries please contact:
· Daphnee Cook, Head of Global News, Daphnee.Cook@savethechildren.org (Based in Kenya)
· Samantha Halyk, Global Media Manager, Samantha.halyk@savethechildren.org (Based in London)
· Maria Gabriela Alvarado, Regional Media Manager, maria.alvarado@savethechildren.org (Based in Panama)
· Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

BEIRUT, 03 August 2023 – About 20,000 people including an estimated 12,000 children have been forced from their homes during five days of violence in Lebanon’s largest refugee camp, with many children showing signs of distress and anxiety, Save the Children said.

Some families in the Ein el-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees told Save the Children they are too scared to leave their homes, despite only having limited supplies of food and water, due to the threat of gunfire that has been raging since Sunday.

Other families have fled the camp, the largest of 12 refugee camps in Lebanon, which is home to up to 80,000 people, and are sheltering in nearby schools.

Displaced families are also facing challenging conditions with many children becoming temporarily separated from their parents and caregivers as they seek safety.

Malak Joudi is a protection and advocacy officer working with Save the Children’s partner, Nabaa, a Lebanese group that support refugees, in a school hosting displaced families.

“We are currently supporting about 76 families – more than 300 people – in schools outside the camp who have fled from gunfight. With limited resources, the schools are grappling with overcrowding as we strive to accommodate and care for these displaced families and children. Despite the challenges, we are committed to providing them with the essentials they need, such as hygiene kits and blankets.

“One family we are caring for has a daughter who sustained injuries from the violent clashes in the camp, and their youngest daughter witnessed the incident. As a result, the youngest daughter is experiencing severe distress and fear, constantly asking about her sister’s condition. We are providing the necessary support … to help the young girl cope with her experiences and emotions.”

Displaced families are also concerned about what they will return to and what may have happened to their homes during the clashes.

George Jreij, Area Manager for Save the Children said:

“We are seeing high numbers of children and families who are experiencing distress and uncertainty given the continued clashes. Many families fled the violence with no time to pack or prepare for displacement. We have been providing emergency cash assistance to the families impacted by the escalation to ensure they are able to meet their basic needs.

“Families have identified diapers and mattresses as their key necessities right now, as well as psychological and emotional support. We have also delivered nearly 200 emergency hygiene kits and are ready to scale up our response.”

Attempts at securing a ceasefire have yet to calm to the tension. Save the Children is calling on all parties to prioritise de-escalation of the situation so that children and their families can be protected and services, including schools, can safely resume.

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Notes to Editors

Save the Children is implementing Education and Child Protection Programmes through an existing community centre and with local partners and camp-based volunteers. As an immediate response, Save the Children has started to provide non-food items (NFI) kits and recreation kits to households affected by recent conflicts in the camp through our local partners, Developmental Action Without Borders (NABAA) and Islamic Welfare Association (ISWA). Save the Children is also working with Protection partners to provide immediate support to children impacted by the violence.

The share of children out of the total population in Lebanon, according to data from the World Population Prospects 2022, is 32.9%. We applied this percentage to the number of people in Ein El Helwe to reach the approximate number of children affected to be 26,320. While estimates vary, the initial estimated number of the displaced people is approximately 4,000 households (around 20,000 individuals) and the number of estimated displaced.

For more information please contact:

• Randa Ghazy, Regional Media Manager Randa.Ghazy@savethechildren.org
• Samantha Halyk, Global Media Manager Samantha.halyk@savethechildren.org
• For out of hours media requests please email media@savethechildren.org.uk or +44 (0) 7831 650409

Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.

Source: Save The Children

Aminda and Lucia, 1 month old twins sleeping outside their family’s home in Mozambique. Save the Children.

World Breastfeeding Week 2023 aims to promote breastfeeding by making a difference for working mothers and fathers. But what happens when people lose their right to work due to emergency situations? Not only is the right to work lost but also access to education, water, sanitation, hygiene, health, and nutrition services.

During emergencies the needs of children and their parents do not stop, children will not stop being born in an emergency and therefore health services that support birth should be established from the initial phase of an emergency. Children will also not stop feeding, however, their mothers may be immersed in different concerns that may limit their confidence in their ability to breastfeed, therefore services to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in emergency situations are equally important in the initial phase of emergencies.

As a recent example of this type of intervention, I visited the Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition project in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique which is part of a multi-sectoral programme that implements water, sanitization, hygiene, and protection activities and responds to the humanitarian emergency of internal displacement in the region. Due to the internal conflict, entire families have had to change their place of residence, not only losing their jobs but overwhelming the capacity of the local health system.

Save the Children supports the local health system through mobile health brigades that bring the country’s standard health and nutrition services package to communities located far from health facilities. These are the communities where people displaced by the internal conflict now live. Among the services offered is the health child consultation, where Save the Children detects cases of breastfeeding difficulties and refers them to the staff in charge of promotion, protection, and support for infant and young children feeding (IYCF), who organize support groups in an exclusive space for mothers, caregivers, and children under 2 years of age to solve common difficulties related to breastfeeding, and for specific difficulties that require it, individual counseling is provided.

During this visit I could meet Joana and Paulo who have 7 children, the oldest is 18 years old and the youngest are twins Rui and Estevão who are 17 months old. They recall that when their twins were born, they had difficulties with breastfeeding because the twins did not latch well to the breast, Joana said it was very difficult for her to breastfeed both because they cried at the same time, and she felt that no milk was coming out. They came to Save the Children’s mobile brigade when the emergency response started and they remember that Vania, Save the Children’s infant feeding officer helped them to know how to improve the technique to breastfeed and produce the right amount of breast milk for both twins and the position to be able to breastfeed both at the same time. They kept attending monthly check-ups to monitor the twins’ weight.

These types of interventions save lives.  Breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 deaths of children under 5 years [1], however, it is not easy, offering support, promotion, and protection services is always essential and especially important during emergencies when families lose their usual emotional, economic, or employment stability.

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Source: Save The Children

BEIRUT, 31 July 2023 – Clashes in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in the south of Lebanon have closed schools and are putting children at direct risk of physical and psychological harm, Save the Children said.

Up to 11 people have been killed and at least two children injured in fighting at Ein el-Hilweh camp, the largest of 12 refugee camps in Lebanon which is home to up to 80,000 people including Palestinian refugees as well as Syrian, Lebanese and migrants from other countries.

Mohamad Mannaa, Save the Children’s Deputy Country Director for Save the Children in Lebanon said these clashes will have an immediate and lasting impact on children and their families.

“Children should never be the target of violence and must not be put at risk of violence, nor should violent clashes stop children from fulfilling their right to education. Save the Children calls on all parties to put children’s rights ahead of any other considerations and to take immediate steps to protect children in Ein el-Hilweh and the surrounding areas.

“Ongoing violence is depriving children of their right to safe access to education, with reports of damage to at least two schools leaving thousands of children out of school. Damage to civilian infrastructure could take years to repair. This escalation has forced us to temporarily close our community centre where child protection activities are carried out.

“Together with our partners, we are closely monitoring the ongoing developments and exploring all possible means to urgently respond to the needs of affected children including distribution of emergency food, shelter and non-food items, as well as child protection services. It is crucial for all parties to prioritise de-escalation of the situation so that children and their families can be protected and services, including schools, can safely resume.”

Save the Children has been working in Lebanon since 1953 and co-leads the Education Sector in Lebanon. For refugees living in informal settlements, Save the Children has been distributing shelter materials, fuel and blankets so families can protect themselves from the cold. Save the Children also supplies essential items, such as washing and cooking equipment and supports local authorities to implement sanitation projects.

For further enquiries please contact:

– Randa Ghazy, Regional Media Manager Randa.Ghazy@savethechildren.org
– Samantha Halyk, Global Media Manager Samantha.halyk@savethechildren.org

We have Mohamad Mannaa available as a spokesperson in Lebanon.

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409
Please also check our Twitter account @Save_GlobalNews for news alerts, quotes, statements and location Vlogs.