LANGLEY - Thanks to a $100,000 donation to Food For Famine Society (FFF) from Billy Vandekerkhove of Super Save Group, a pair of shipping containers filled with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) have been sent to malnourished children in Africa.
The first container arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Dec. 23.
The second container pulled into the Port of Mombasa in Kenya on Jan. 23, heading to its final destination in Juba, South Sudan.
World Vision Canada (WVC) assists FFF with the distribution of RUTF through their Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition programs.
The South Sudan shipment arrived in the war-torn region within days of a peace treaty being signed by the government and rebels.
The recent violence has exacerbated the hunger issue that was already above the World Health Organization's emergency threshold of 15 per cent, prior to the violent outbreaks.
The demand for RUTF in the Juba region of South Sudan has increased with 1.7 per cent of the 1,254 kids screened found to be suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
World Vision Canada and its partners are working closely to reduce the mortality rate among children and mothers due to malnutrition.
WVC is also focusing its efforts on teaching the importance of breastfeeding, promoting ongoing health education, nutrition and the use of appropriate breast milk substitutes.
Juba is desperate for clean water systems, medical supplies, therapeutic food and milk, blankets, mattresses, essential medicines, and health care workers.
Food For Famine Society with their partners, Mana Nutrition and World Vision Canada, are working to support the need for RUTF as quickly as possible.
Maria Martini of Food For Famine Society is thrilled that an additional shipping container is close to being filled, thanks to the generosity of local donors.
Food For Famine Society welcomes donations at Foodforfamine.org.