Coronavirus - Africa: Refugees in Africa ‘even more vulnerable than ever’ amid COVID crisis.
M2 PRESSWIRE-July 10, 2020-: Coronavirus - Africa: Refugees in Africa ‘even more vulnerable than ever’ amid COVID crisis
(C)1994-2020 M2 COMMUNICATIONS
RDATE:09072020
The alert from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), coincides with ongoing conflict and disasters on the continent, and severe underfunding for their work.
"While the situation continues to deteriorate for everyone, the disaster is magnified for refugees who have absolutely nothing to cushion their fall", saidWFPExecutive Director, David Beasley. "In the best of times, refugees live in cramped conditions, struggle to meet their basic needs and often have no option but to rely on outside assistance for their survival. Now more than ever, they need our lifesaving support."
More than 10 million refugees worldwide receive WFP assistance today; this includes the world's largest refugee settlements, such as Bidibidi in Uganda, where food rations were cut by 30 per cent in April, owing to cash shortfalls.
Reduced rations
More than 3.2 million refugees across East Africa are already receiving reduced rations because of underfunding, including in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Tanzania.
Significant funding shortfalls either threaten or have led to food cuts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Without urgent action, levels of acute malnutrition, stunting and anaemia are expected to rise, the agencies warned, while also urging Governments to ensure that refugees and displaced populations are included in social safety nets andCOVID-19response plans - in line with theGlobal Compact on Refugees- to ensure they are able to access food and emergency cash assistance.
Ethiopia refugee children in crisis
In Ethiopia, more than six in 10 refugee children are already experiencing critical levels of anaemia, whileUNHCRHigh Commissioner Filippo Grandi, warned that around one in two refugees are children "who may develop life-long difficulties if deprived of food at vital stages in their development".
In Cameroon, WFP had to reduce its assistance to refugees from the Central African Republic by 50 per cent in May and June, because of funding gaps.
Cuts in rations are also expected for Nigerian refugees in the country, while across East Africa, congestion...
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