FAO warns about COVID-19 impact on school feeding programmes

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the school feeding programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

It is calling for  LAC countries to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on children’s nutrition.

The FAO has noted that among the measures taken by the LAC governments in the face of the rapid expansion of the novel coronavirus disease is the closure of schools and, therefore, the suspension of school feeding programmes.

But the FAO said that these programmes currently benefit 85 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean, adding that for about 10 million, they constitute one of the most reliable daily sources of food.

The FAO said the suspension of the school feeding programmes will pose a challenge to the food security and nutritional status of many children, especially those from the most vulnerable groups.

“Ensuring sufficient, diverse and nutritious food contributes to strengthening people’s immune system and increases their capacities to cope with diseases,” said FAO’S Regional Representative, Julio Berdegué.

The FAO is calling for governments to implement measures to support children whose families have greater difficulties in accessing food, and to provide the nutritional contributions that are usually guaranteed by school feeding programmes.

FAO has pointed out that, for any action taken by governments, all measures recommended by national and international health authorities should be taken into consideration to stop the spread of COVID-19.

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