Emergency food rations may be nutritionally unbalanced and insufficient to meet their micronutrient and protein-energy needs. In the absence of additional markets and sources of food and income, their food, supplies, health, and care are jeopardized. Displaced and refugee populations are particularly vulnerable to nutritional deprivation, related respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, and violence in the crowded and unhygienic conditions of emergency camps. Men with guns can out-compete civilians, the intended beneficiaries, for humanitarian food aid. Women everywhere are the targets of violent physical and sexual abuse.
Children are also special victims of violence.
In addition, war-torn countries are less able to plan and implement nutrition programs to overcome childhood malnutrition. Donors have tried to respond to the special needs of the food deprived by targeting food for refugee areas and by trying to address the special food, health, and psychological needs of women and children. Aid analysts have also emphasized the need to address the health and care dimensions of nutrition, in addition to food issues.