A/HRC/39/CRP.2 for children. A Word Food Programme report on northern Rakhine State in mid-2017 highlighted limited access to livelihoods, due largely to freedom of movement restrictions and the increased security presence, as being a main contributory cause of malnutrition. It summarised the situation at that time: In line with the previous remote emergency assessments, the survey confirmed a worsening of the food security situation in already highly vulnerable areas after the October 2016 incidents and subsequent security operations. Nearly one third of the population was severely food-insecure and in need of humanitarian assistance. Only 14 per cent of women achieved minimum dietary diversity and none of the children met the minimum adequate diet. Income opportunities were scarce and households could not access sufficient food to cover their needs. About half of the markets were not functioning or were only partially operational, food prices were highly volatile and supply of affordable foods in many markets was scarce. 1152 535. The report further stated that poor child feeding practices may have increased wasting (low weight-for-height) and stunting (low height-for-age) in children, both symptoms of acute undernutrition. Of greatest concern, the report estimated that 80,500 children under the age of five were expected to be in need of treatment for acute malnutrition over the subsequent 12 months.1153 This preceded the “clearance operations” that began on 25 August 2017. 536. The various waves of violence in Rakhine State have had a serious adverse impact on the enjoyment of the right to food. Interviewees from northern Rakhine reported increased hunger following the 2012 violence due to further movement restrictions and fear.1154 One interviewee explained how they would only eat one meal a day out of fear to leave the house.1155 The following account was also provided regarding the impact of the violence on access to food: People couldn’t go to work and couldn’t earn money. At one point, there was no food. People were trying to help each other, but it was particularly difficult for very poor people. Initially, nobody dared going outside. Then hunger was such that people started to take risks and go out to work. They thought: “better to die by a bullet than to die of hunger”.1156 537. The 2016 and 2017 “clearance operations” have had a devastating impact. 1157 On 9 January and 23 August 2017, a group of United Nations Special Rapporteurs addressed two urgent appeals to the Government of Myanmar to raise the issue. 1158 The August 2017 communication highlighted information regarding “evident deterioration of the food security situation in northern Rakhine” and raised concern about the “long term, chronic lack of access to adequate food in the context of prolonged security operations in the area”. The Special Rapporteurs highlighted allegations that one-third of homes in northern Rakhine were already experiencing extreme food deprivation, and that children were especially vulnerable, as reflected in their high malnutrition rates. It should be noted that this urgent appeal preceded the commencement of the August 2017 “clearance operations” by two days, after which access to food and its consequences further deteriorated significantly. 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 128 World Food Programme, Food security assessment in the northern part of Rakhine State - Final report (July 2017). Ibid. DI-009, DI-053, DI-054. DI-009. DI-054. World Food Programme, Food security assessment in the northern part of Rakhine State - Final report (July 2017); V-047. UA MMR 6/2016 available at: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=22927 and UA MMR 8/2017 available at: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=23297