WASHINGTON (May 3, 2024) The Alliance to End Hunger commends the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on its announcement of a $200 million investment in life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and other specialized nutritious foods to prevent and treat acute malnutrition. This announcement follows a USAID pledge in 2022 which was matched by private philanthropic donors. That funding enabled lifesaving foods to reach 7.3 million children under the age of 5 – a 35 percent increase from 2021.
“In the depths of our current global food crisis, we know the vital role that RUTF plays in saving countless lives, as well as the critical leadership required of the U.S. to ensure these products are available and accessible,” stated Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. “Today’s announcement builds upon past success and will save countless lives moving forward.”
This critical assistance is needed now more than ever with an unprecedented international food crisis. 18 global “Hunger Hotspots” have been identified by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and numerous other regions around the world are facing acute levels of hunger and malnutrition – with some on the verge of famine.
The Alliance continues to advocate to policymakers for support of specialized nutritional products such as RUTF to treat global malnutrition. These products should be widely produced, including manufacturing in the U.S. by companies such as Edesia Nutrition and globally by local organizations and global partners such as Meds & Food for Kids (MFK). Organizations like Edesia and MFK, in partnership with USAID, UNICEF, and WFP, will be able to put this funding to immediate use.
