The needs of 195 million children suffering from malnutrition around the world are being shown in a new light through the “Starved for Attention” campaign launched last week by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the VII Photo agency.
Between June 2nd and July 19th, the campaign’s website will unveil a series of mini-documentaries highlighting the causes and effects of malnutrition in seven areas across the globe, as well as the individuals at Doctors Without Borders who are working on these issues. Additionally, an online petition to urge the world’s donor governments to provide more adequate food aid is presented on the campaign’s website.
Malnutrition among children can lead to physical and mental development problems, which further burdens societies where the malnourished live. VII Photo agency photographer Ron Haviv said in the Starved for Attention press release that photojournalists of the 20th century succeeded at capturing lasting images of major famines. This success may have, in turn, bred complacency among individuals and donors about acting to end existing malnutrition and food crises.
Haviv explained how the Starved for Attention campaign can be a powerful wake-up call and reignite interest in combating malnutrition.
The campaign’s press release tries to explain the distinct, but important difference between malnutrition and hunger, and how this distinction sets the goal for the campaign:
“Currently, international food donors mostly provide cereal-based fortified flours. While these foods can relieve hunger, they do not meet the nutritional requirements of young, growing children. For example, the US, the world’s largest food aid donor, is sending sub-standard foods that do not meet basic nutrition requirements for infants and young children. These foods would not be provided to children in the US. Starved for Attention exposes this double standard.
Tested strategies to address malnutrition are effective and are showing promising results in many countries. Some, including Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil, have reduced early childhood malnutrition through direct nutrition programs that ensure infants and young children from even the poorest families have access to quality foods, such as milk and eggs. At the same time there is growing political will in Asian and African countries to replicate successful programs. The Starved for Attention petition calls for support to these efforts.”
Posted by Michael Lucivero.
Photo credit: © John Stanmeyer/VII