{"id":115287,"date":"2020-06-03T20:01:40","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T23:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/?p=115287"},"modified":"2020-06-03T20:01:40","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T23:01:40","slug":"sphere-handbook-food-security-bringing-dignity-and-reliance-to-the-victims-of-humanitarian-crises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/en\/sphere-handbook-food-security-bringing-dignity-and-reliance-to-the-victims-of-humanitarian-crises\/","title":{"rendered":"Sphere Handbook Food Security: Bringing dignity and reliance to the Victims of Humanitarian Crises"},"content":{"rendered":"

When they worked as a volunteer in the\u00a0Greece Mission<\/a><\/strong>, a missionary of\u00a0Fraternity \u2013 International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF)<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>watched in disbelief as refugee mothers offered their babies the same food that was for the adults. It was a typical North African dish, consumed by adults in their country of origin: lentils cooked with a strong seasoning and strong spices. The scene took place in a cafeteria run by humanitarian organizations in Athens. Greece has become Europe\u2019s gateway for those coming from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and welcomed immigrants and refugees of various nationalities, mainly Syrians and Turks.<\/p>\n

\"Manual<\/a><\/p>\n

Baixe o Manual Esfera em espanhol<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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It is because of stories like this, which are repeated all over the world, that the\u00a0Sphere Handbook<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0emphasizes the importance of the issue of Food and Nutritional Security. The theme is like a piece of a great puzzle represented by the humanitarian aid to populations and communities at risk. Like the other pieces, this is vital. Without it, the picture is not complete. By itself, it means nothing. For this reason, food and nutrition fit perfectly with the other technical themes, joining the theme of Water and Hygiene (which we saw in the report on WASH actions) and also with the themes of Lodging and Camping, and Health, the subjects of our next reports.<\/p>\n

In order to achieve good results, responses to the food and nutrition problems need to be coordinated with the WASH, shelter, and health actions. For example, it is necessary to have water in sufficient quantity and quality to prepare nutritious food and adopt safe eating practices. Access to sanitary and hygienic facilities reduces the risk of outbreaks of diseases, as well as adequate accommodation allowing the use of kitchen facilities and offering protection from extreme weather conditions, decreasing the risk of illnesses. When there is access to good health care, the nutritional situation is likely to be better.<\/p>\n

The refugee mother in Greece was not offering the adult\u2019s food to the baby because she lacked options. She was simply reproducing a common practice in her community of origin, where despair because of hunger causes people to consume the food that is available, whatever it may be, either for children or for adults. Through a lack of guidance and education, the mother could not comprehend how harmful such spicy food would be to a still developing organism.<\/p>\n

It is bad nutrition that precisely leads to lack of nutrition, one of the serious worldwide problems frequently found in humanitarian shelters. Bad nutrition is like the tip of an iceberg. The true reality of the problem is submerged, and most of the time, we don\u2019t see or perceive it; the ingestion of inadequate food, the uncertainty of enough food in the home and insecurity in the family environs, illnesses and lack of attention to health.<\/p>\n\n\t\t