28.09.2026

Red Cross nutrition centers are helping malnourished children in Burundi

Child malnutrition is widespread in Burundi. The Red Cross provides supplementary nutrition to underweight children and helps parents improve their children’s diets. By donating to the Hunger Day collection, you’ll be helping where aid is needed most—in Finland and around the world. With your support, we provide people in the midst of disasters with shelter, food, clean water, and medical care, among other things.

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In the kitchen yard, there is a shelter built of corrugated iron and wattle-and-daub walls. A scale hangs from its roof beam. Seven women and nine children are sitting on colorful mats. Now we’ll find out how much the children have gained in weight over the past two weeks.

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world. At the same time, Burundi’s population is growing rapidly, as women give birth to an average of five children. Burundi has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world.

According to UNICEF statistics, 55 percent of children under the age of 5 in Burundi suffer from growth stunting caused by inadequate nutrition.

Help for Malnutrition from Red Cross Nutrition Centers

Volunteers with the Burundi Red Cross conduct growth assessments for children under five in their communities. All children in the community are weighed, and the length and circumference of their upper arms are measured.

Children on the green growth curve are growing normally. Children on the red growth curve are sent to the hospital to receive supplementary nutrition.

Children on the yellow growth curve receive supplementary nutrition at Red Cross nutrition centers, and their growth is carefully monitored through weighing and measuring. In addition, staff at the centers provide hands-on guidance to parents on how to feed their children a varied and sufficient diet.

Three kilograms in a week

In Muramvya, Western Burundi, Cristela Nimbona undresses her three-year-old daughter, Brianne Niyobushoboz, and lifts her into the arms of the volunteers. Brianne is placed on a scale that reads over nine kilograms. The child has gained three kilograms since her first weighing.

In addition to Brianne, Cristela Nimbona has another child. This is her first time at the Red Cross center with her children.

“We didn’t know how to prepare a varied diet for our children. Here, I’ve learned how to feed children and how to prepare food,” says Nimbona.

Punaisen Ristin ravitsemuskeskuksissa keltaisella kasvukäyrällä olevat lapset saavat lisäravintoa ja heidän vanhempansa tukea lasten ruokavalion koostamiseen. Photo: Veera Lehto-Michaud

The Burundian authorities recommend that families eat a nutritious meal three times a day. Many families are only able to feed their children twice a day. The poorest families eat only once a day. Christela Nimbona farms the land, which provides her livelihood. She knows that children should eat three times a day, but there isn’t enough food for her family.

There's enough food for two meals. We eat in the morning and during the day, but there isn't enough food for dinner.

Christela Nimbona

Malnutrition Is Declining

Goreth Nzinahora’s 2.5-year-old daughter, Marie Chadia Irankunda, happily eats the supplementary food prepared by Red Cross volunteers. Marie’s weight has increased by more than two kilograms in two weeks.

“Her weight started to go up right away.” “I’m happy because the volunteers really helped me get my child to gain weight,” says Nzinahora.

Volunteers also conduct follow-up visits to the homes of families who have visited the nutrition center. The purpose of these follow-ups is to ensure that the child’s weight gain and growth continue at home as well.

“I want my child to have continued growing by the time they arrive at my home.”

The Red Cross’s work is yielding results

In 2025, volunteers from the Burundi Red Cross measured the weight and height of nearly 38,000 children in communities supported by the Finnish Red Cross. Ninety-five percent of the children were on a normal growth curve, but four percent were on a yellow growth curve. Last year, a total of 2,200 children and their families received supplementary food at nutrition centers, and the families received guidance on feeding their children. The weight of all children who attended the centers increased during the monitoring period.

In addition to Burundi, we provide aid around the world and in Finland wherever the need is greatest. The Disaster Relief Fund ensures that aid reaches its destination quickly and reliably. About 90% of the fund’s donations come from private donors. Your support is absolutely essential!