NPR on Nostr: What World War II taught us about how to help starving people today ========== ...
What World War II taught us about how to help starving people today
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Lessons from World War II: The liberation of concentration camp survivors sparked the modern study of starvation. Starvation throws survivors' biological functions out of whack, making it difficult for their bodies to handle regular eating. This is known as the re-feeding syndrome. Severe acute malnutrition can cause volatile blood sugar and electrolyte levels, which can be upset by feeding regular foodstuffs. The Dutch "hunger winter" during Germany's occupation of the Netherlands revealed long-term impacts of extreme malnutrition, including stunted growth, cognitive deficits, poor school performance, and more health problems in adulthood. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lasting effects of malnutrition due to brain development. Aid groups have developed specialized care for malnourished children, including therapeutic feeding and medical interventions. However, ongoing conflicts in hunger-stricken areas make it difficult for aid workers to provide this care. Sudan and Northern Gaza are currently facing severe hunger crises, with millions of children at risk of acute malnutrition and life-threatening stages.
#Starvation #Malnutrition #WorldWarIi #Aid #HungerCrises
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/04/19/1245553753/starvation-malnutrition-holocaust
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Lessons from World War II: The liberation of concentration camp survivors sparked the modern study of starvation. Starvation throws survivors' biological functions out of whack, making it difficult for their bodies to handle regular eating. This is known as the re-feeding syndrome. Severe acute malnutrition can cause volatile blood sugar and electrolyte levels, which can be upset by feeding regular foodstuffs. The Dutch "hunger winter" during Germany's occupation of the Netherlands revealed long-term impacts of extreme malnutrition, including stunted growth, cognitive deficits, poor school performance, and more health problems in adulthood. Young children are particularly vulnerable to lasting effects of malnutrition due to brain development. Aid groups have developed specialized care for malnourished children, including therapeutic feeding and medical interventions. However, ongoing conflicts in hunger-stricken areas make it difficult for aid workers to provide this care. Sudan and Northern Gaza are currently facing severe hunger crises, with millions of children at risk of acute malnutrition and life-threatening stages.
#Starvation #Malnutrition #WorldWarIi #Aid #HungerCrises
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/04/19/1245553753/starvation-malnutrition-holocaust