OCHA and QRCS tackle malnutrition in Syria with therapeutic nutrition programs

The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is unveiling a project to improve access to comprehensive nutrition and infant and young child feeding during emergencies in northwestern Syria. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) funds the project. 

The project aims to save lives by reducing mortality and morbidity rates in the region, particularly children under five years and pregnant and lactating women in conflict-affected areas. 

The UN’s latest Hunger Hotspots report underscores that after fourteen years of conflict, economic collapse, and institutional instability, the Syrian Arab Republic is facing “one of the world’s largest food security crises.” The report estimates that 7.8 million people are moderately acute food insecure and 1.4 million are severely acute food insecure in the country. 

Moreover, the report specifies that the country would need US$694.5 million for food security and agriculture interventions and US$65.9 million for nutrition interventions. It recommends implementing supplementary nutrition interventions for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls and providing treatment services for children facing moderate malnutrition. 

QRCS expects to reach out to over 212,000 direct beneficiaries in 26 villages and camps for internally displaced persons, including around 80,000 children and 60,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women. 

Tackling malnutrition

The project will focus on early detection of acute malnutrition by screening, providing preventative nutritional supplements, and referring severe and complicated cases to specialized therapy centers. 

QRCS has deployed nine rapid response teams and 15 mobile teams, comprising 48 health workers, to reach out to conflict-affected populations in the most remote and vulnerable areas. 

Amid global aid cuts, data shows growing rates of acute hunger and malnutrition in 2025. Last month’s Global Report on Food Crises by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre warns that additional conflicts in the Syrian Arab Republic will hinder recovery from the food crisis. 

Community-based nutrition

In addition, the project will provide community-based nutrition services in emergencies in accordance with approved protocols and standard operating procedures. 

For this purpose, it adopts “interactive and community-based” awareness-raising techniques to promote proper health and nutrition behaviors to ensure a sustainable post-execution impact. 

For example, workers will provide health consultations and information on maternal and child nutrition in emergencies, treat moderate and severe malnutrition, and provide reproductive health services when needed.