The Italian government, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, is to provide €500,000 for a new project to be implemented by Children’s Rights & Emergency Relief Organization Unicef-implemented in Sudan’s Red Sea state.

A joint press statement by Unicef and the Italian government says that the 12-month project is to be implemented in five localities in the Eastern State with an aim to prevent and control malnutrition in the region, specifically targeting children under 5, pregnant and lactating women.

“While funded by Italy, Unicef is to provide technical guidance and support to the Ministry of Health in the State of Red Sea, its main implementing partner in the region.

“The signing ceremony, which took place at the Headquarters of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation-AICS in Khartoum, was attended by representatives from both signing parties, led by H.E. Fabrizio Lobasso, Ambassador of Italy in Sudan, who has expressed his great satisfaction for this accomplishment emphasizing the importance of providing access to nutrition for children and infants in the region “Italy has always been engaged in providing better life options for the people of Sudan and this project opens a new opportunity for vulnerable groups in the region,” the statement reads.

Abdullah A. Fadil, Unicef Country Representative, conveyed his appreciation to the significant Italian assistance in this field: “This project, Prevention and Control of Malnutrition in the Red Sea state, provides us with a wonderful opportunity to further partnership on nutrition- as part of a bigger, holistic response to children in the Eastern states.

The focus on prevention is particularly important in bridging the Humanitarian – development divide. I would truly like to thank and congratulate the Government and people of Italy for being a pioneer partner, in investing in the longer-term prevention of malnutrition.”