Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group, Yemen’s largest private company and Tetra Pak, the world’s leading foods and beverages processing and packaging company joined forces to support safe nutrition in schools across Yemen. The initiative was announced at a joint food security workshop co-hosted by HSA Group and the International Food Policy Research Institute, held in Amman this week, under the theme: “Rethinking food crisis responses: the power of partnership to build resilient food systems in Yemen.”
According to UNICEF, over 2.2 million Yemeni children are suffering from acute malnutrition, including more than 540,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Across Yemen, over 50% of children are experiencing irreversible stunted growth due to a lack of nutrition and growing food insecurity.
Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, Managing Director, HSA Group – Yemen region said: “Yemen’s next generation faces an uncertain and challenging future. Feeding these children is a moral imperative and essential for Yemen’s future. Young people are disproportionately affected by Yemen’s ongoing food security crisis, while millions remain out of school.
“The country cannot afford a lost generation where millions of children, even if they survive the famine, will grow up with their minds and bodies stunted because of lack of nutrients. This transformative project aims to alleviate the burden of these challenges on young people, in a period of life that is essential to both intellectual and physical growth.
“It is our hope that, by working together with Tetra Pak, we will be able to support the health and wellbeing of Yemen’s young and ambitious population, nurturing talent and unlocking potential.”
Niels Hougaard, Managing Director, Tetra Pak Arabia said: “The challenges faced by Yemen’s food systems require immediate and continuous efforts to make food available, particularly for the younger population. The foods and beverages sector, when operating responsibly, has the power to make a huge difference in this matter.
“Our partnership with HSA Group is a statement to Tetra Pak’s commitment to protecting food, people, and the planet. We are looking forward to making this project happen and to contributing to food security relief in Yemen.
“We will continue to innovate with our customers and realise our vision of making food safe and available, everywhere, especially in conflict zones, where people wake up every day just to survive.”
Leveraging the two parties’ product development and manufacturing capabilities, the partnership will support the development of new, innovative value-chain-based affordable nutritious products for children in schools throughout Yemen, helping to respond to under- and malnutrition in communities across the country.
Commencing in September 2023, the initiative will support the nutrition of children with 10 million packs with across schools throughout Yemen, helping to improve the health of pupils whilst incentivising school attendance.
Under the scope of the initiative, HSA Group will produce UHT milk in local facilities which will be fortified with micronutrients and vitamins based on local nutritional deficiencies; while Tetra Pak will supply Tetra Brik Aseptic® 125 packaging, ensuring that the product remains fresh for up to 12 months and thus maximising the distribution time window across the country. By partnering with Tetra Pak, partners will minimise the impact of transport delays, which are common in Yemen due to damaged infrastructure.
The initiative will also be used to raise awareness about the importance of recycling. Children will be taught about the impact of waste on the environment and how waste can be managed sustainably.
HSA Group and Tetra Pak have been partners for over 20 years and share a passionate commitment to the wellbeing of the Yemeni people.
