Nutrition Matters

The classic disaster model of an emergency, which assumes simple cause and effect between food shortages, malnutrition and death, no longer holds. The nature and perceptions of emergencies are changing. In fact most emergency situations are protracted, with obvious political dimensions, and the great majority of crises can be predicted and often recur in the same area and. With appropriate interventions, the progress of famine can be halted. This book is based on the authors' views and experiences as fieldworkers in situations of food insecurity and famine, combined with their in-depth knowledge of the discipline of nutrition. They develop a new conceptual framework of the role of nutrition in famine which can be used to analyse the underlying causes of malnutrition, the stage of famine, and the risk of disease and death. This is useful as a basis for nutritional assessments, for identifying appropriate intervention, and targeting strategies. Practical suggestions for carrying out assessments and for alternative interventions are given. The institutional and political change needed for the successful implementation of appropriate interventions is also considered.