MOGADISHU, Somalia — Hunger and loss form a kaleidoscope in Somalia, but there was one scene that stood out from my visit: A mother, Fardosa Ahmed, shyly confided that she had eight children but had already had eight children. She had lost four of them, and now she feared she might lose a child. fifth, daughter Catiko, sick, motionless.
The quiver in Fardosa’s voice reminded me of the future human cost of hunger, as I wrote in my last column, is looming this spring. United Nations officials are warning as loudly as possible of this impending disaster, reflecting the combination of two global forces driven by the West – and it will be up to us to choose which side prevails. .
The first is climate change, which is thought to be a factor in the drought here, which is drying up crops and killing livestock. Climate change is complex, but my guess is that Fardosa won’t be at risk of losing a fifth child if we don’t secure our standard of living by pumping carbon into the atmosphere for more than a century.
The second global force is a more promising one: the revolution in child mortality has saved tens of millions of lives and allows us to help Somali children this year if that is the priority. top first.
A measure of our progress in saving children’s lives:
According to an analysis of data, as recently as the 1920s, the child mortality rate in the United States higher than in Somalia today – and since then it’s been down more than 95% in the US. In 1960, child mortality rate was higher in Mexico, Brazil, China and Turkey than in present-day Somalia.
We know how to save children’s lives. At UNICEF in the 1980s and 1990s, an American executive named James Grant — for my money, the most important UN official in history — oversaw efforts to reduce mortality in developing countries and perhaps saved 25 million won life. If we were to build statues of heroes based on their impact on the world, a bust of Grant would adorn every town square.
All of this emphasizes that we live in an age of miracles, when it is possible to multiply loaves of bread and fish, feed the hungry and conquer death itself. And we can do this very cheaply.
Take Ubax Muhamad, a 5-year-old girl I met who weighs only 20 pounds. UNICEF says stopping this kind of severe acute malnutrition in Somalia could cost as little as 15 cents a day. The modern version of manna from heaven is a high-energy variant of peanut butter called Plumpy’Nut, which costs $57 a box and feeds a severely malnourished child for about two months. .
Another effective way to combat malnutrition is lower technology – promoting exclusive breastfeeding. just about one third of Somali mothers who exclusively breastfeed their babies for six months and a highly regarded non-profit organization focused on breastfeeding, Live & Growestimated that the life of nearly 10,000 won Somali children a year can be saved by optimal breastfeeding.
One factor is suspicion of colostrum, the very nutritious first milk that can be yellow and thick.
Hawa Ibrahim, a grandmother who has lost seven grandchildren, told me: “The first milk was terrible – never give it to a baby. “For honey instead, two days later can give breast milk.” That’s terrible advice.
Other mothers repeat the false advice that on hot days, babies need to drink water as well as breast milk, or should give them other foods starting at three or four months.
The promotion of breastfeeding is already underway in Somalia and is having an impact, as exclusive breastfeeding rates have increased sixfold since 2009 when it was only about 5 percent.
I know I will hear from some well-meaning readers who will say something like: What you describe is heartbreaking, but if we help the Somalis, won’t they continue to give birth to children who will then starve to death?
The answer is no.
It is true that Somalia has one of the highest birth rates in the world: 6.3 births every woman. But that number has dropped, and there are three approaches that have worked globally to reduce fertility: educating girls, improving access to contraception, and reducing child mortality. children so that families can have confidence that their children will survive.
One of the fathers I met, 22-year-old Saalax Abdiqadir, had a 2-year-old girl who was severely malnourished and nearly died. When times are tough, I ask him, do you think he and his wife should have fewer children, because they can’t afford to feed them, or have more children, in case some of them die?
“I want to have more children, in case I lose one,” he replied.
So let’s have some empathy. For those asking how to help, check out Hawa Abdi . Dr. Foundation or International Rescue Committee. And for government officials, a message: A lesson in history is that we can overcome hunger — but it’s important to act early.
The next few months will be crucial. I’m afraid we’ll miss that window.
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Many thanks to readers who have donated more than $5.5 million to date to the three nonprofits featured in my annual report. holiday gift guideincluding one active in drought-affected areas of Africa. You can donate until January 31. For more information, visit KristofImpact.org.
