YEMEN – Tetra Pak, a packaging manufacturer, has joined forces with Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group to tackle the food security and nutrition challenges affecting young individuals.
Kicking off this week, the pilot program aims to deliver fortified flavored milk in aseptic packaging to 10,000 children in Yemen on school days.
The initiative seeks to enhance the nutritional intake and health of students while encouraging regular school attendance. The initial phase will focus on approximately 20 schools in the Taiz governorate.
Yemen has grappled with a prolonged conflict since 2014, resulting in widespread instability, population displacement, and infrastructure devastation.
This turmoil has disrupted essential facets of life, including access to food and fundamental services.
Niels Hougaard, Tetra Pak Arabia’s managing director, notes the strain on Yemen’s resources due to the conflict, making it challenging for governmental bodies and humanitarian organizations to adequately address the nutritional needs of school children.
HSA Group, operating local facilities, produces UHT milk fortified with essential micronutrients and vitamins to address regional nutritional deficiencies.
Tetra Pak provides Tetra Brik Aseptic 125 packaging, ensuring the product remains fresh for up to 12 months. This extended shelf life minimizes the impact of transportation challenges prevalent in Yemen’s damaged infrastructure.
The Humanitarian Development Program (HDP) by HSA Group will oversee milk distribution, collaborating with pertinent authorities such as the Ministry of Education and the UN’s nutrition cluster, managed by UNICEF and the WFP.
Announced during a joint food security workshop in May, co-hosted by HSA Group and the International Food Policy Research Institute, titled “Rethinking food crisis responses: the power of partnership to build resilient food systems in Yemen,” the project aims to address various facets.
HDP will handle storage requirements, ensure food safety in schools, initiate awareness campaigns within communities, and oversee project monitoring and evaluation.
Moreover, schools will leverage this initiative to educate children about recycling, emphasizing environmental impacts and sustainable waste management practices.
Simultaneously, the International Food Policy Research Institute conducts an impact assessment to gauge the program’s influence on children’s educational and health outcomes.
Looking forward, the collaboration between HSA Group and Tetra Pak aims to expand safe nutrition access for Yemeni children.
Their plan involves enhancing the food value chain, supporting small-holder farmers in developing their businesses, earning income, and improving their livelihoods.
Hougaard highlights future plans, aiming to diversify food products for children and innovate affordable, nutritious dairy and cereal-based beverage formulations.
He stresses the goal of inspiring additional donors and charitable organizations to join in the expansion efforts, building upon the insights gleaned from the initial pilot program.
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