UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

192
General Feeding Programme
◆ A mean figure of 2,100 kcal per person per
day is used as the planning figure for calculating
the food energy requirements of
refugees in emergencies in developing
countries 6 ;
◆ Everyone in the population, irrespective of
age or sex, should receive exactly the same
general ration (i.e. same quantity and type
of foods);
◆ The food basket should be nutritionally
balanced and suitable for children and
other groups at risk;
◆ Every effort should be made to provide
familiar foodstuffs and maintain traditional
food habits;
◆ The level of fat intake should provide at
least 17% of the dietary energy of the
ration. Protein intake should provide at
least 10-12% of the total energy;
◆ The diet must meet essential vitamin and
mineral requirements;
◆ Particular attention should be paid to locally
prevalent nutrient deficiencies.
General Ration
35. Every effort should be made to provide
familiar foodstuffs and maintain sound traditional
food habits. Expert advice on the ration
size and composition is essential and should
take full account of local availability of food
commodities. Staple food should not be changed
simply because unfamiliar substitutes are
readily available. Inappropriate foods often
lead to waste and lower the morale of the
refugees.
36. The first concern is to ensure that energy
and protein requirements are met. The
planning figure for the average minimum
daily energy requirement per person per day
for a developing country population at the
beginning of an emergency is 2,100 kcal. See
Annex 1 for examples of rations which meet
this requirement. This average requirement is
calculated on an average population containing
men, women and children of different
age groups. However, a complete ration
should be provided to each refugee without
distinction.
6 The Management of Nutritional Emergencies in Large
Populations, WHO, Geneva, 1978.
A minimum requirement of 2,100 kcal per
person per day is used as the planning figure
for a developing country population at
the beginning of an emergency.
A population which contains mostly active
adults may require considerably higher average
energy intakes. In addition, a higher ration
is vital for survival in a cold climate.
37. The daily energy requirement can be
adjusted when the situation has stabilized 7
and detailed data is available. Factors to be
taken into consideration are:
i. Age and sex composition of the population;
ii. Activity level;
iii. Climatic conditions;
iv. Health, nutritional and physiological status;
v. People’s access to other food sources e.g.
agriculture, trade, labour.
38. The food basket should comprise: a staple
food source (cereals), an energy source
(fats and oils), a protein source (legumes,
blended foods, meat, fish), salt and possibly
condiments (such as spices). Fresh foods
should be included in the food basket for essential
micronutrients. The level of fat intake
should provide at least 17% of the dietary energy
of the ration, and protein intake should
provide at least 10-12% of the total energy.
39. When certain food commodities are not
available, they can be replaced for a maximum
of one month by other available food items in
order to maintain the adequate energy and
protein level. Substitution in energy value,
should an item not be available, is:
Corn Soy Blend (CSB) for beans 1:1
Sugar for oil 2:1
Cereal for beans 2:1
Cereal for oil 8 3:1
E.g. the energy from 20 g of sugar can substitute
for that from 10 g of vegetable oil.
40. Cereal flour, rather than whole grain,
should be provided, especially at the beginning
of an emergency. Considerable fuel savings
are made by using milled rather than
whole grain. If whole grains are provided,
local milling should be made available and the
cost compensated for.
7 See for further information: WFP/UNHCR Guidelines for
Estimating Food and Nutritional Needs in Emergencies,
1997.
8 One way only, note that oil cannot be used in place of
cereal.