The document summarizes the malnutrition crisis in Syria. Over 13 million people in Syria require humanitarian assistance and 4.6 million children and pregnant/lactating women are in need of nutrition services, representing 23% of the population. A 2015/2016 survey found acute malnutrition rates of 7.8% for women and 3% for children, with chronic child malnutrition at 12.7% and anemia in 24.5% of children. The underlying causes are related to factors like food insecurity, poverty, and disease due to the ongoing war. Suggested actions include prevention programs providing fresh food vouchers and micronutrient supplements, and treatment programs for moderate acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

1. Mhd Samer Alkarkoukly
Freiburg | May 22nd, 2018
Malnutrition during
the Crisis in Syria

2.  Introduction to Syria Crisis.
 Current Situation of Malnutrition
 The underlying causes of malnutrition
 Health challenges and the suggested actions
Outline:

3. Entering the seventh year of the crisis, the scale, severity, and complexity of
needs across Syria remain overwhelming. Some 13.1 million people in Syria
require humanitarian assistance (UN OCHA, 2017).
Introduction to Syria Crisis:

4. Based on “Humanitarian
Needs Overview 2018”
which was published by UN
OCHA, the total number of
people in need for nutrition
services is:
4.6 Million
children and pregnant &
lactating woman (PLW) (UN
OCHA, 2017).
Which represents 23% of
the current total population
Current Situation of Malnutrition:
(UN OCHA, 2017)

5. A SMART* survey was implemented in Syria in 2015/2016 lead by UNICEF
and indicated the following: (Syria Nutrition Sector, 2016)
7.8% Prevalence of Acute Malnutrition within women of child bearing
age (CBA)
24.5% Prevalence of Anemia among Children under 5
Current Situation of Malnutrition:
*Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions
12.7% Prevalence of Chronic
Malnutrition among 6-
59 months children
3% Prevalence of Acute
Malnutrition among 6-59
months children

6. The underlying causes of malnutrition
UNICEF conceptual framework of the
determinants of undernutrition:
Malnutrition
Household
food insecurity
Siege, Poverty, destruction of agriculture, destruction of family
structure
War Desertification
Inadequate care
and feeding
practices
Unhealthy
household
environment
Inadequate
dietary intake
Disease
Basic causes
Underlying
causes
Immediate
causes
(UNICEF, 2015)

7. Health challenges and the suggested actions
(UN World Food Programme Strategy)
Children
living in
food-
insecurity
Children/
PLW with
Malnutrit
ion
Children
with
Micronut
rient
deficienci
es
PLW*
living in
food-
insecurity
Suggested
Actions
Challenges
*Pregnant and Lactating Women
Prevention:
Fresh Food
Vouchers
Prevention:
Lipid-based
nutrients
Treatment:
CMAM
Programme
Treatment:
Micronutrient
s Powder
(WFP, 2012)

8. References:
• Syria Nutrition Sector, 2016. Results of SMART survey, Damascus: UNICEF.
• UN OCHA, 2017. Humanitarian Needs Overview 2018, Damascus, Syria: UN
OCHA.
• UNICEF, 2015. UNICEF’s approach to scaling up nutrition. New York: Unicef.
• WFP, 2012. Nutrition at the World Food Programme. Roma: WFP.

9. Thank you
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