Two UN agencies join forces to fight child hunger in Latin America, Caribbean

Two United Nations agencies signed a new agreement today to strengthen their cooperation in reducing child malnutrition in Latin American and the Caribbean and to improve the livelihoods of the poorest families in the region.

In a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), both agencies pledge to join forces to respond to emergencies and provide nutritional support for young children and their mothers. They also agree to monitor and assess progress made in all efforts.

"Together, we want to bring hope and a bright future to the children of Latin America and the Caribbean," said WFP Regional Director for the region, Zoraida Mesa. "By strengthening our cooperation with UNICEF we will improve our ability to reduce and prevent malnutrition."

The two agencies, which have a long history of working together to help children throughout the region, will particularly target children in those countries where the challenge is greatest, and those which that face repeated natural disasters or economic crises.

"Poverty and extreme poverty has substantially limited families' access to an adequate diet, and this is particularly evident after natural disasters or economic crises," UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Per Engebak said, citing Guatemala and Argentina which experienced a sharp rising the cases of acute child malnutrition after being impacted by a drought and economic crisis respectively.