To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, together with international
partners, to tackle acute child malnutrition across the world, and particularly in
Afghanistan; and what assessment they have made of the UNICEF report Child Alert:
Severe Wasting, published in May, which said that "a record 1.1 million children in
Afghanistan are projected to need life-saving treatment for severe wasting this year,
nearly double the number in 2018".
<p>The UK continues to be deeply concerned over the high levels of global acute child
malnutrition, with over 60 million children expected to experience wasting in 2022.
As highlighted in the recent UNICEF Child Alert, the UK has been at the forefront
of tackling this devastating condition which not only takes lives but also leaves
children with lifelong disabilities. The UK has historically been the largest funder
for treatment of child wasting, providing roughly one quarter of all financing for
wasting. In September 2020 the FCDO launched a 5-year partnership with UNICEF to drive
improvements to the prevention and treatment of child wasting.</p><p>Levels of acute
malnutrition in Afghanistan are particularly concerning, with 1.1 million children
expected to require life-saving treatment for severe wasting this year. In response
the UK has pledged a further £286 million for Afghanistan, the majority of which will
go towards life-saving humanitarian assistance. A priority focus is emergency food
assistance and nutrition services through key partners, including UNICEF and the World
Food Programme. This support is expected to reach over 4 million people with a focus
on vulnerable women and children.</p>
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government
of Israel about reports that unarmed men leaving Gaza through gaps in the separation
fence to seek work in Israel have been shot at with live and rubber ammunition.
<p>We have repeatedly made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the way
Israel Defense Forces police protests and the border areas, including the use of live
ammunition. We did so most recently at the UN Security Council briefing and consultations
on the Middle East Peace Process on 20 November. We call on Israel to adhere to the
principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security
interest.</p>