A family’s fight against malnutrition
Mobile teams reach vulnerable children and mothers with lifesaving health and nutrition support
Aleppo, Syria - “My children are the best thing in my life. At the same time, they are the ones I worry about the most,” said Manal, 26. “It wasn’t one particularly sad moment. When they weren’t healthy, I was very sad every time I looked at them,” she added.
The impact of the prolonged conflict in Syria, displacement, and the worsening economic downturn has made life difficult for Manal and her family of seven. They live in the Naqqarin neighbourhood of Aleppo city, sharing a house with two other families. Manal's husband, the sole breadwinner, is a daily labourer and struggles to make ends meet.
We never have enough food. The house is full of hungry children. How would you say ‘no’ to a child when they ask for food. My husband and I used to cry every night when our children went to bed hungry. They were too thin, and we feared losing them.
“We used to have tomato paste for lunch. Breakfast and dinner were not a part of our diet,” said Manal. On good days, we’d have bulgur,” she added, recalling the rare occasions when they had a bit more food available for the family.
In 2022, a UNICEF-supported mobile health and nutrition team visited pregnant Manal and her four children during their visit to the neighbourhood. Manal and her four children were screened and diagnosed with malnutrition. “The reason was not having enough food. I was relieved we weren’t sick but was hurt I couldn’t provide basic food items for my children,” said Manal. “It’s their basic right to have food and I am responsible for it.”
As part of the nutrition support provided for the most vulnerable children and mothers, UNICEF-supported mobile teams screen children, under the age of five, and pregnant and lactating women for malnutrition. The teams also distribute preventive and curative nutritional supplies, including micronutrient powder, high-energy biscuits, and ready-to-use-therapeutic food, to prevent and treat malnutrition. Mothers are also counselled on optimal infant and young child feeding practices, including breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
“I went from crying, when looking at my four malnourished children, to seeing them healthy and happy,” said Manal, describing her children’s recovery from malnutrition. Manal also received treatment for malnutrition as well as nutrition advice to help her recover before giving birth.
“I noticed a big difference in my youngest when he was born. He was healthy,” said Manal. “I am thankful for the nutrition team. They regularly followed up on how we were doing even after the recovery,” she added.
“My children are too young to understand, but whenever we come to the clinic they smile and hug the health workers. It is as if they can tell how valuable the team’s help has been,” she said.
In 2023, UNICEF reached 1.88 million children and more than 171,000 women in Syria with primary healthcare services. Also, 1.17 million children and some 401,700 women were reached with nutrition services. This support was provided through 62 mobile teams and 86 fixed clinics across the country. This assistance was possible thanks to contributions from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA/USAID); Central Emergency Response Fund; UNICEF’s Global Humanitarian Thematic Fund; Governments of Australia, Canada, Greece, Norway and New Zealand; Syria Humanitarian Fund; UNICEF United Arab Emirates; UNICEF National Committees for Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Finland, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Spain and the UK.
