Nepal is landlocked, making it difficult to transport food and resources. For these reasons, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country hard. The pandemic forced people into multiple lockdowns, set transportation restrictions and ultimately sunk citizens back into poverty. It also heightened food insecurity and malnutrition.

However, almost 90% of Nepal’s population became fully vaccinated in July 2022, partially thanks to the World Bank Group COVID-19 response programs that are helping more than 100 countries improve the health and well-being of their citizens.

Still, more support is needed to address hunger in many countries including Nepal. According to a World Food Programme country brief from July 2022, 25% of Nepal’s 28.5 million population lived on less than fifty cents a day and 36% of children under the age of 5 were malnourished.

USAID Package to Help Nepal

The country’s food crisis has also been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war and a widespread fertilizer shortage. The war is driving up inflation, especially for commodities such as gas, agricultural goods, metal and minerals.

On August 22, USAID announced a $15 million aid package to address the hunger crisis in Nepal. This assistance helps ensure people in Nepal have enough nutritious food to sustain themselves. USAID will be working with the government of Nepal to make sure that the country’s specific needs and goals are met, despite rising prices and food shortages. Ensuring access to nutritious food is the main goal of this funding and it will be accomplished in two main ways.

Support to Local Farms

Approximately 68% of workers in Nepal work in agriculture. Even so, food supply often runs short because farmers have little access to newer methods of farming that often produce higher yields. This funding is set aside to help Nepal produce more food, which will not only boost food security but also increase incomes.

Nutrient-Enhanced Food for Kids under 5 and pregnant women

Approximately 36% of Nepali children under 5 are chronically malnourished, which means that their development becomes significantly impaired, or “stunted”. Additionally, about 20% of Nepali women are anemic and one in 10 experience stunted growth. The cycle of malnutrition continues when pregnant women are unable to provide enough nutrients to sustain their children. For the following reasons, USAID will be prioritizing extra quality nutrition for women and children.

Outlook

This funding will be incredibly impactful for women, children, people with low literacy levels, rural households, disabled people and minorities who already have limited access to services. Overall, the Global Hunger Index suggests that hunger in Nepal could be addressed by eliminating child marriage, empowering women and marginalized groups and improving health care and education.

– Ava Ronning
Photo: Wikimedia