September 8, 2026
After the devastating flash flood in Nepal, many families urgently need support. Helfende Hände is on the ground and is providing those affected with drinking water, blankets, clothing and gas stoves.
PEANUT PASTE AGAINST MALNUTRITION
SMALL SACHETS THAT GIVE CHILDREN NEW STRENGTH
RUTF: Therapeutic peanut paste for children with acute malnutrition in East Africa
In several regions of East Africa – including remote areas in Uganda, Ethiopia, and neighboring countries – droughts, conflicts, and difficult supply routes repeatedly lead to acute food shortages. Children are particularly affected by severe malnutrition.
Our scouting teams travel through these regions to quickly assess where the need is greatest and which villages require help first. Many of these places are difficult to reach. Valuable time often passes before larger aid deliveries arrive.
That is why we equip our teams with RUTF (Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food). This allows treatment of malnourished children to begin during the very first mission to the villages – even before comprehensive aid deliveries arrive. The therapeutic peanut paste helps bridge the critical time when rapid assistance decides between life and health.
WHAT IS RUTF (READY-TO-USE THERAPEUTIC FOOD)?
RUTF stands for "Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food" and is a ready-to-eat specialized food for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children.
The high-energy peanut paste consists of peanuts, milk powder, vegetable oil, and sugar, among other ingredients. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals. A 92-gram sachet provides around 500 kilocalories and is specially tailored to the needs of malnourished children.
Why RUTF peanut paste is so important in hunger relief
Ready for immediate use in cases of acute malnutrition.
The paste can be consumed directly from the sachet. It does not need to be cooked or prepared with clean water – a decisive advantage in crisis areas.
Rich in energy and nutrients for children in need.
RUTF provides energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. This supports weight gain and the stabilization of health in cases of severe malnutrition.
Long shelf life for humanitarian missions.
The sealed sachets have a shelf life of up to two years without refrigeration. This makes RUTF ideal for humanitarian aid in remote regions of East Africa.
Easy to transport to hard-to-reach areas.
The small, robust sachets are easy to transport and can be brought quickly to remote communities even over difficult paths.
Help for malnutrition that cannot wait.
With RUTF, our teams can start the first treatment of malnourished children upon the very first contact with affected families. While further food aid and medical care are being organized, the vital nutritional therapy starts immediately.
Please help us bring urgently needed therapeutic food to children in particularly affected regions of East Africa.
JUST 50 CENTS HELP A CHILD
Every contribution helps us equip scouting teams in East Africa with therapeutic peanut paste for the treatment of malnutrition:
5 EUROS
provide 10 sachets of RUTF for children in acute need.
15 EUROS
provide 30 sachets of RUTF for initial emergency care.
75 EUROS
provide an entire box with 150 sachets of RUTF for use in crisis areas.
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