Approximately 30 percent of children in Karenni State are facing malnutrition, one of Burma's highest rates of childhood malnutrition, and food insecurity has worsened since the military coup. Conflict has disrupted farming and supply chains, inflation has made basic foods unaffordable, and the regime has limited access to crucial and lifesaving nutrition treatments from organizations like UNICEF. In response, USAID is partnering with a local civil society organization, led by one of the country’s foremost nutrition experts, to produce nutrient-rich energy bars using locally available ingredients to treat childhood malnutrition.
Trained community health volunteers assessed the nutritional status of children under the age of five in 12 internally displaced person (IDP) sites, offering nutrition focused health education sessions to families and distributing the energy bars. Between April and July 2024, trained community volunteers distributed a total of 14,600 packs of energy bars to 631 children, with targeted nutritional support and education for all children who were diagnosed with severe or moderate acute malnutrition. Within four months, the rate of underweight children dropped significantly from 21% to 11%. USAID and local partners are helping build stronger, more resilient communities and allowing children to improve their nutrition to fight malnutrition. This program provides immediate relief for hunger while also establishing local skills and resources to better handle future challenges, such as ongoing food insecurity and conflict.
