996
June 1975 The Journal o f P E D I A T R I C S
An emergency for children in developing countries CHILDREN in much of the developing world are always in a state of emergency. The present crisis in which millions of children will starve to death is an intensification of conditions of misery and poverty w h i c h are " n o r m a l " for c h i l d r e n o f the d e v e l o p i n g world. In the current world economic crisis, as prices go up and surplus stocks of food go down, the situation of children is even more precarious. Television and the press portray for us scenes of hunger and starvation so extreme that they are difficult to comprehend. Many of us turn away because misery in the mass is too alien to our experience to be understood. But also many reject what they see and hear because they see no way they can be involved personally in a solution. After World War II when much of Europe was a diseaster area, an agency came into being to meet the crisis for children. United Nations International Childrens Emergency F u n d did a remarkable job assisting the war-torn countries of Europe to feed and cloth their children. Later, with the emergency over, U N I C E F s role was redirected to provide assistance for children in the developing countries, but with emphasis on helping the countries to develop their own long-term basic services. Programs supported by U N I C E F in more than 100 countries are directed toward practical assistance, such as training of local personnel, and provision of e q u i p m e n t a n d supplies. H o s p i t a l a n d s c h o o l equipment, pumps for village wells, and equipment for milk plants are a few of the specific contributions to countryrun and supported long-range programs. U N I C E F s particular skill in giving emergency aid, growing out of its early experience, has also been used many times in floods, earthquakes, famines, and epidemics. Over the years U N I C E F has increasingly exercised a role of advocacy for children. It is in this context that the Executive Board of U N I C E F in May 1974 issued its "Declaration of an emergency for children in developing countries as a result of the current economic crisis." To quote from this declaration: It [the Board] considers that, as a result of the economic crisis, there is now grave danger of a further deterioration of
Vol. 86, No. 6, pp. 996-997
the situation of children in many countries, including possibilities of more wide-spread malnutrition and famine. It fears that many countries will be in danger of having to reduce already minimal basic services for children, affecting not only their nutrition, but also their health, education and, more generally, their prospects for life. One response to this declaration on the part of some people may be that no emergency aid can be useful under the present conditions of population growth, although few will approve the traditional methods by which population was controlled in the past--war, disease, a n d famine. F a m i l y p l a n n i n g p r o g r a m s using modern methods may be one answer to mass starvation in the future but like so many theoretical solutions, family planning is difficult to implement. Birth control depends not only on availability of means but also on motivation of individuals to accept those means. Experience has shown that where infant mortality rates are high, motivation to limitation of family size is low. Thus a variety of programs must come into play to make family planning w o r k : - - p r o g r a m s for health services, nutrition, education of mothers, as well as for general economic development. Abbreviation used UNICEF: United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund A n o t h e r response to a declaration of an emergency may be that the United States has done its share in providing the major portion of the world's food aid in the past. True, but at little cost to ourselves. Our surplus c o m m o d i t i e s , a c q u i r e d t h r o u g h s u b s i d i e s to s u p p o r t farm prices, were costly to store and of no use to us. Programs " t o get rid of the stuff" were in the interest of the American farmer and the taxpayer. These food-aid programs did benefit many children, though they were not designed primarily for that purpose, but now our surpluses are gone, and at a time when drought and crop failures have made the need m a n y times greater. W h e t h e r we have a conscience and will share our abundance at some sacrifice remains to be seen.
Volume 86 Number 6
Some individuals no doubt will modify their eating habits, but restraint at the dinner table in the United States is not easily translated into more food for starving children in Asia or Africa. What can help is awareness of the problem and acceptance of our responsibility, translated into promotion of Congressional action for increased financial resources for appropriate international agencies. U N I C E F s goal for 1975 of $100 million plus $80 million for relief programs, if reached, will support only a small portion of the need. But one can be sure that it will fulfill its p u r p o s e - - t o improve the lot of children. Joined with m a n y other types of international assistance, U N I C E F s programs, focused on children, can act as a catalyst within their own country. Because it operates without a n y political, religious, or racial restrictions, U N I C E F has won widespread international cooperation both from giving and receiving countries. Throughout most of this century, the United States has had a government spokesman for children in the
Editor's column
997
Children's Bureau. Outside government, pediatricians, as they have become firmly established professionally, have assumed a wider social role and now have an active a n d effective l o b b y for c h i l d r e n in the U n i t e d States. Let us hope the scope of their interest can b e extended to children in less favored areas of the world. Contributions to help meet the most critical needs of children may be sent to: World Child Emergency, US Committee for U N I C E F , Box 5060 Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10017. Katherine Bain, M.D. 2710 Quebec St. Washington, D.C., 20008
As a matter o f policy, THE JOURNAL does not participate in fund raising campaigns; an exception is made in the case of the world-wide problem described above. W.E.N.
June 1975 The Journal o f P E D I A T R I C S
An emergency for children in developing countries CHILDREN in much of the developing world are always in a state of emergency. The present crisis in which millions of children will starve to death is an intensification of conditions of misery and poverty w h i c h are " n o r m a l " for c h i l d r e n o f the d e v e l o p i n g world. In the current world economic crisis, as prices go up and surplus stocks of food go down, the situation of children is even more precarious. Television and the press portray for us scenes of hunger and starvation so extreme that they are difficult to comprehend. Many of us turn away because misery in the mass is too alien to our experience to be understood. But also many reject what they see and hear because they see no way they can be involved personally in a solution. After World War II when much of Europe was a diseaster area, an agency came into being to meet the crisis for children. United Nations International Childrens Emergency F u n d did a remarkable job assisting the war-torn countries of Europe to feed and cloth their children. Later, with the emergency over, U N I C E F s role was redirected to provide assistance for children in the developing countries, but with emphasis on helping the countries to develop their own long-term basic services. Programs supported by U N I C E F in more than 100 countries are directed toward practical assistance, such as training of local personnel, and provision of e q u i p m e n t a n d supplies. H o s p i t a l a n d s c h o o l equipment, pumps for village wells, and equipment for milk plants are a few of the specific contributions to countryrun and supported long-range programs. U N I C E F s particular skill in giving emergency aid, growing out of its early experience, has also been used many times in floods, earthquakes, famines, and epidemics. Over the years U N I C E F has increasingly exercised a role of advocacy for children. It is in this context that the Executive Board of U N I C E F in May 1974 issued its "Declaration of an emergency for children in developing countries as a result of the current economic crisis." To quote from this declaration: It [the Board] considers that, as a result of the economic crisis, there is now grave danger of a further deterioration of
Vol. 86, No. 6, pp. 996-997
the situation of children in many countries, including possibilities of more wide-spread malnutrition and famine. It fears that many countries will be in danger of having to reduce already minimal basic services for children, affecting not only their nutrition, but also their health, education and, more generally, their prospects for life. One response to this declaration on the part of some people may be that no emergency aid can be useful under the present conditions of population growth, although few will approve the traditional methods by which population was controlled in the past--war, disease, a n d famine. F a m i l y p l a n n i n g p r o g r a m s using modern methods may be one answer to mass starvation in the future but like so many theoretical solutions, family planning is difficult to implement. Birth control depends not only on availability of means but also on motivation of individuals to accept those means. Experience has shown that where infant mortality rates are high, motivation to limitation of family size is low. Thus a variety of programs must come into play to make family planning w o r k : - - p r o g r a m s for health services, nutrition, education of mothers, as well as for general economic development. Abbreviation used UNICEF: United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund A n o t h e r response to a declaration of an emergency may be that the United States has done its share in providing the major portion of the world's food aid in the past. True, but at little cost to ourselves. Our surplus c o m m o d i t i e s , a c q u i r e d t h r o u g h s u b s i d i e s to s u p p o r t farm prices, were costly to store and of no use to us. Programs " t o get rid of the stuff" were in the interest of the American farmer and the taxpayer. These food-aid programs did benefit many children, though they were not designed primarily for that purpose, but now our surpluses are gone, and at a time when drought and crop failures have made the need m a n y times greater. W h e t h e r we have a conscience and will share our abundance at some sacrifice remains to be seen.
Volume 86 Number 6
Some individuals no doubt will modify their eating habits, but restraint at the dinner table in the United States is not easily translated into more food for starving children in Asia or Africa. What can help is awareness of the problem and acceptance of our responsibility, translated into promotion of Congressional action for increased financial resources for appropriate international agencies. U N I C E F s goal for 1975 of $100 million plus $80 million for relief programs, if reached, will support only a small portion of the need. But one can be sure that it will fulfill its p u r p o s e - - t o improve the lot of children. Joined with m a n y other types of international assistance, U N I C E F s programs, focused on children, can act as a catalyst within their own country. Because it operates without a n y political, religious, or racial restrictions, U N I C E F has won widespread international cooperation both from giving and receiving countries. Throughout most of this century, the United States has had a government spokesman for children in the
Editor's column
997
Children's Bureau. Outside government, pediatricians, as they have become firmly established professionally, have assumed a wider social role and now have an active a n d effective l o b b y for c h i l d r e n in the U n i t e d States. Let us hope the scope of their interest can b e extended to children in less favored areas of the world. Contributions to help meet the most critical needs of children may be sent to: World Child Emergency, US Committee for U N I C E F , Box 5060 Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10017. Katherine Bain, M.D. 2710 Quebec St. Washington, D.C., 20008
As a matter o f policy, THE JOURNAL does not participate in fund raising campaigns; an exception is made in the case of the world-wide problem described above. W.E.N.
