Due to school closures, 300 million children will be left without their only daily meal, WFP

(Patria) – Around 300 million primary school-aged children who depend on school meals will be left without their only daily meal due to school closures, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

The organization reports that almost half of the 18 million children for whom they provide food through humanitarian programs in 61 countries will be left without meals.

WFP is now considering alternative ways of providing food for children of this age, such as take-away meals, home delivery of meals, cash, or meal vouchers, which would be beneficial not only for children but also for their families.

The organization states that 860 million children and young people worldwide cannot attend classes due to the pandemic.

Governments of developed countries such as the USA, France, and Canada have established special mechanisms to prevent children from poor families from going hungry.

However, such a system cannot be discussed in underdeveloped countries, as well as those at war or with regime governments.

- We can switch to online learning, but not to online feeding. Concrete solutions are needed, emphasizes Carmen Burbano, director of WFP's school food division, reports the British Guardian.