Dennis McKinlay, UNICEF NZ’s Executive Director, has arrived in Chad to look at the unfolding food crisis there. Here he reflects on his first day meeting those affected….
Mouland is a one year old boy who has suffered two bouts, of acute malnutrition. He will be in hospital for three weeks. Most of this time he will spend recovering with the help of therapeutic milk and the last few days he will start on a special peanut based paste packed with nutrients. He and his mother will then leave for the 25km trip home. If they can afford $1 for a motorbike taxi it will be a 30 minute trip but if not then a three hour walk.
Life is tough in Chad at the moment. This story is one of many I heard today. With failed crops leading to reduced family income and food insecurity, families are struggling to survive in too many cases.
In 2011 when the rains came in June, crops were planted but the rains were not enough and in 45c heat the crops shrivelled up. More rain later in the month and again crops were planted and failed due to lack of water. Over June/July this process happened three times. Families spent their money on seed and tried their best but to no avail.
This situation is shocking but it is not hopeless and that is what impressed me today; seeing how work today will help when future droughts occur, as they sadly will. The causes of the nutrition crises in Chad and across the Sahel are not man made but organisations like UNICEF can reduce the impact of such droughts in the future. It is this long term planning which is so important, sitting alongside activities to address immediate needs.
At the beginning of the year Chad had 280 health clinics where children were treated for malnutrition, given vitamin A, immunised, and mothers educated about hand-washing and childcare. Now there are 350 clinics and UNICEF is planning for over 450 by the end of June. Health clinic are addressing the immediate nutrition needs but they will stay and build resilience against future droughts.
Likewise wells are being dug. Today I went to a region where 50 wells have been drilled and pumps installed. Latrines are being dug and villagers educated that use of latrines and handwashing will save their children from repeated illness.
I really am encouraged by the way your money is being spent on initiatives that are both immediate and long term. And the people I met are so grateful just to have safe water. When you see the gratitude you just want to do more and more to keep improving their lives.
Help must be given now to avoid a humanitarian disaster. We are at UNICEF NZ are doing all we can and with your help we will save lives now and at the same time build in resilience for the future.
Donate here to support UNICEF’s work in Chad www.unicef.org.nz/sound-the-alarm






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Stories from the Field: My journey to Chad (part three)
Dennis McKinlay, UNICEF NZ’s Executive Director, continues his trip in Chad to look at the unfolding food crisis there. Here he talks about meeting malnourished children at a health centre and the amazing work UNICEF is doing to help them….
At the Bunda health centre this morning I met Ashta – a 27 year old mum to nine children.
Dennis meets Ashta and her son Deia
She was with her six month old son Deia. Ashta had been breastfeeding her son but he had started to vomit after feeding. Without breast milk Deia had started to become severely malnourished, so Ashta brought him to the health centre.
At the centre I saw Deia being fed with plumpy’nut (a peanut based food packed with nutrients, costing only NZ70c a sachet) and then left to rest and see if he would retain this food. The good news is he did.
The other mothers were at the centre because their children were severely malnourished. The children are weighed and then measured determine their body weight and height against what is normal. A record is created and maintained of the child’s progress. Once it is confirmed the child can accept plumpy’nut then they are sent home with a week’s supply. Normally they have three sachets a day. A week later mother and child will return for another supply and the child can be checked for progress.
plumpy'nut - the amazing product UNICEF is using to save children's lives
This process lasts a month and by then the child should be ready to move on to regular food again. If they are not ready then the treatment is continued until they are back on their feet again.
Astoundingly, 128,000 children in Chad need this care and up to a million across the Sahel. Without more funding UNICEF can’t reach them all – but we must and soon.
Donate and help buy plumpy’nut for children in Chad like Deia who need our help