More than 416,000 children in Syria are now at significant risk of severe malnutrition following the sudden suspension of foreign aid that forced the closure of one third of Save the Children’s life-saving nutrition activities across the country. 

Data compiled by a group of humanitarian organisations operating in Syria shows that in nearly half of the country’s districts, more than 50% of children under five with severe acute malnutrition are not receiving the treatment they need. Malnutrition cases in Syria have been rising for years, but funding cuts have exacerbated an already dire situation. 

Twenty out of 50 of Save the Children’s nutrition programmes across Syria were forced to suddenly halt operations, stopping vital care for over 40,500 children under the age of five. These centres provided therapeutic food such as fortified peanut paste and milks and health services to treat and prevent severe and acute malnutrition. 

Malnutrition in children weakens immune systems, stunts growth, and leaves children highly vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. Without timely treatment, the most severe form, known as wasting, can quickly become fatal. 

Halmia*, 25, mother of a malnourished baby: 

“My baby’s just four months old. She was born premature, she’s malnourished, and she’s had bronchitis for weeks. The clinic doesn’t have the special milk she needs.”