370 million children missed meals due to school closures – UN report

MANILA, Philippines — In addition to its impact on education, the widespread school closures implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic may result in a generational nutritional crisis as millions missed school-based feeding programs, according to a United Nations study.

The study, conducted by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP), noted that nearly 370 million children in 150 countries have missed 40 percent of in-school meals on the average since the crisis began.

“In 2020, globally, an estimated 39 billion in-school meals have been missed during school closures,” read the paper, which looked into the impact of school closures on children’s nutrition.

“Children globally are estimated to have missed an average of 4 out of 10 in-school meals they would have regularly received, with children in some countries missing 9 out of 10 in-school meals,” it added.

UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore said children who depend on schools for their daily meals not only lose out on an education but also on a reliable source of nutrition.

“As we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and await vaccine distribution, we must prioritize the reopening of schools and take action to make them as safe as possible, including through renewed investments in proven infection prevention measures like clean water and soap in every school around the world,” she added.

The report noted that some 24 million children are at risk of dropping out of school globally due to the pandemic.

School feeding programs, it said, can provide incentives for the most vulnerable students to return to the classroom when schools reopen.

“Evidence shows that school feeding programs can increase enrollment and attendance, especially for girls and disadvantaged children, and they can play a key role in getting children back to school and keeping them enrolled post-crisis, if implemented safely,” the report stated.

It recommended prioritizing the safe reopening of schools and encouraged those that remain closed to adapt traditional school feeding programs as take-home rations or cash transfers to allow continued support to children who need it most.

“Missing out on nutritious school meals is jeopardizing the futures of millions of the world’s poorest children. We risk losing a whole generation,” said WFP executive director David Beasley.

“We must support governments to safely reopen schools and start feeding these children again. For many, the nutritious meal they get in school is the only food they will receive all day,” he added.

In the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) earlier revised its guidelines to ensure the continuity of its school-based feeding program.

Unlike in previous school years when the meals were prepared and distributed in schools, nutritious food products were distributed to the homes of some 3.77 million students.

“Nutritious food products to be distributed to homes of the learners shall be hygienically packed in environment-friendly bags. The use of plastic bags is discouraged. Parents who will pick up the food products can also bring their own reusable bags,” read the guidelines.

“Even if nutritious food products and milk are to be consumed at home, it is important to communicate to parents that the beneficiaries shall be the ones to consume the food and milk,” it added.