In Yemen, twins Khaled and Ali have successfully overcome malnutrition through a comprehensive program of medical care, nutritional support, and constant monitoring. Since last June, INTERSOS, in partnership with the European Union, has reached over 11,000 children at risk of malnutrition.

 

 

In Northern Yemen, in the Al-Hajratin displacement camp, Khaled and Ali, twin boys just a few months old, are the youngest of six children. Their family fled the Harad district four years ago due to the conflicts. Living in a camp means facing overcrowding and a scarcity of drinking water every day, conditions that put the health of the youngest children to the test. Their father works occasionally as a laborer, but his income is not enough to guarantee them an adequate diet.

Last year, during a community screening conducted by INTERSOS staff, the twins were brought to the Der Al-Hasi health center. Their conditions were worrying: Khaled weighed 4.2 kg and Ali only 3.6 kg. Both were diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and immediately enrolled in the treatment programme funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid.

The process included the administration of therapeutic foods, routine medical care, and vitamin supplements. At the same time, their mother attended training sessions on hygiene and proper infant feeding practices. Our staff then regularly visited the family at home to monitor progress and support the parents in daily management.

The recovery was gradual but steady. In three months, Khaled reached 6.5 kg, meeting the criteria to be considered out of danger. Ali completed his journey in December, reaching a weight of 6.0 kg.

Today, the children are much more active. Their mother reports that they no longer suffer from the constant episodes of illness that characterized their lives before the treatment.

In Yemen, what is often referred to as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis,” today, 23.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and more than 18 million are suffering from food insecurity, according to data from OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).

The most serious problem concerns acute malnutrition, which affects approximately 2.5 million children under the age of five. The prolonged conflict, together with the economic crisis and difficulties in accessing health services, makes it complicated for many families to guarantee their children even a single nutritious meal or a medical check-up.

The case of Khaled and Ali demonstrates how integrating healthcare in health centres with constant monitoring in communities is the only effective way to reach those living in isolated areas or in displacement camps. Since June, this INTERSOS project with the European Union has reached 11,772 children with malnutrition checks. Despite the high number of patients, the quality of care has remained unchanged. Khaled and Ali received life-saving therapeutic food and medical monitoring, joining the 218 children who have been successfully discharged during this period. With a high recovery rate (93%) and no deaths recorded among our cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), Khaled’s and Ali’s recovery is a significant example of how our basic healthcare services are keeping the most vulnerable children in Hajjah alive.

This work is possible thanks to funding from the European Union, which supports nutritional activities in Northern Yemen — as well as in the South — to ensure children receive the medical assistance they need.

(Archive picture)