Getting to know International Organizations

 I took interest this week in the country of Yemen and its poverty on children.  I found a great report on the reality of poverty in Yemen on the UNICEF website, UNICEF.org.  As this is a country that UNICEF contributes to in many ways in attempts to reduce the poverty rate amongst children and families.  UNICEF also intervenes in many ways to help increase awareness and support the decrease of malnutrition due to poverty.  UNICEF describes poverty as a “multiple phenomenon measured in many ways” (UNICEF).  The odds of a child receiving a second chance from poverty is very rare to slim.  Thereforth the child will have a life in poverty throughout adulthood as well.  Many problems are formed from poverty as a child; physical, mental, emotional, and more.  When we reflect to the country of Yemen, whom is in a world of devastation and chaos due to war.  War creating many families to suffer from devastation, losing everything they own, half of the population suffer food insecure amounts of food, no functioning healthcare system, and having to flee their homes.  2.2 million children are acutely malnourished, and 1.7 million children are acutely malnourished needing urgent care.  In 2016 UNICEF treated 215,000 children suffering from serve acute malnutrition and 4 million plus children age 5 received vitamin supplements.    Today there are 462,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.  Packages have been delivered over the last few years to the citizens of the country, nutrition specific.  The magnitude of this problem is growing with the violence and devastation continuing in the middle east, it is truly overwhelming.  The reality as shared in the report is that if a difference is not made, a cycle of poverty and under development.  Al Sabayecn Hospital works on screening children suffering from malnutrition, treating those that are severe.  There are many obstacles that Yemen and these hospitals face on tackling the epidemic of malnourishment, resulting from poverty throughout the country.  These obstacles for hospitals can range from the need for medication, the need for man-power(doctors/nurses/ect), functioning health facilities and the access to them.  The greatest piece that needs to occur in order for not only the people to survive, but the country itself, is the war to stop.  That indeed is another beast in itself.  The reality is that the country and its people are suffering.  The children, whom are the future generation suffer from malnourishment, resulting in many developmental concerns. (UNICEF).  How are they to flourish in the future under these situations? 

Examples of children suffering in that country are the medical history of the following two children, one only being 5 months-old and the other 2 years-old.  Abdulmalik, the 5 month-old was brought to the hospital due to the child being non-responsive.  The infant at 3 months-old only weighted just over 2 kilograms.  After hospital stay of 2 months the infant’s weight was up to 3.2 kilograms.  The ideal weight for a child of this age is 6 kilograms, almost over half the weight this child in Yemen is.  The child was suffering for malnourishment, due to the gross degree of poverty in the country.  Another child, the 2-year-old, suffering from his body being swollen and barely able to lift head up due to weakens.  He was diagnosis with dehydration and malnutrition.  Abdo was admitted into the hospital to recover.  When the child reached 50% improvement the parents checked him out and returned home with him.  This is an issue added to the concern of malnutrition that is commonly seen throughout the hospitals.  Due to the impact of poverty many families cannot afford to travel away from home or their job, regardless of time duration.  The lack of functioning healthcare system and hospitals, the access to healthcare is rare or a far distance.  Many families do not have the funds to transport back and forth to the hospitals.  A vicious cycle that seems to be stuck on repeat.  A change has to occur for these children to thrive, for this country to thrive.  UNICEF is intervening as much as they are able based on the funds received and volunteers. (Madhok & Erman, 2017). 

I have to say I am a bit ashamed of the information I gathered from this site.  I was aware poverty existed in our world and indeed was a global problem.  I by far realized the severity of it in countries of war.  I recall my grandmother sharing her stories of the cold war, but I never experienced any thus far to say.  War has to be the worst of all evils, leaving a path of devastation of unsorts.  We, as Americans whom have access to many luxuries should reconsider how we spend money, spend our time, waste, or even ignore the problems surrounding us.  Poverty is indeed real, and we must stand up and make a difference.  Whether one donates money, time, or their voice, something needs to create a reform for humanity.  In 2017 UNICEF still needed 236.6 million for emergency response in Yemen, which includes nutrition for mothers and children at 83.5 million.  There is so much more that continues to grow daily.  We all must begin today making a difference, an impact globally. 

Reference

Madhok, R., & Erman, Al S., (2017, February 14). In Yemen, conflict & poverty exacerbate        child malnutrition. Retrieved from https://unicef.rg/infobycountry/yemen_94543.html