UNICEF will distribute 10 tonnes of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to support children in the central region which was recently severely hit by storms and floods.

 UNICEF will distribute 10 tonnes of ready-to-use therapeutic food to support children in the central region. Photo by UNICEF Vietnam/Truong Viet Hung.

According to the organisation, they are ordering a total of 60 tonnes of RUTF to be shipped to Vietnam in the coming weeks.

The food will be distributed to vulnerable children and women in nine affected areas in the central region. The RUTF meets international standards and is in the form of a soft biscuit that provides all the energy and micro-nutrients required for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.  

"The life-saving therapeutic food will be distributed to commune health centres through the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)," UNICEF said. "An estimated over 4,000 acutely malnourished children in Vietnam will benefit every day for the next three months from this life-saving nutrition treatment."

"Children have been among the most affected by the recent natural disasters that have struck Vietnam," said UNICEF Representative to Vietnam, Rana Flowers. "UNICEF is working with partners to bring emergency relief to affected children and women in central Vietnam, prioritizing access to clean water, sanitation facilities, health care, nutrition, education, psycho-social support and child protection.”