National Agencies
***The situation has forced young people to resort to processed and low-quality foods, such as the well-known “street combos”**
According to the Survey of Living Conditions of the University Population of Venezuela (Enobu 2023), the progressive closure of university cafeterias since 2018 has generated an “unprecedented food emergency” in the country’s higher education institutions.
According to the study, 96% of students at public universities do not have access to a cafeteria service.
This situation has forced students to resort to processed and low-quality foods, such as the well-known “street food combos,” which has generated a “serious nutritional imbalance.”
Additionally, 32% of teachers and 21% of students reported eating less than three times a day during 2023.
The data collected shows a critical situation in southern Venezuela, “where more than a third of university students (30.4%) face food insecurity.”
They stressed that the consequences are multiple and affect both the physical and mental health of students and teachers.
Malnutrition, fatigue and difficulty concentrating are some of the most direct consequences of this reality.
“In addition, the lack of access to nutritious foods limits students’ intellectual development and academic performance.”
Enobu 2023 also revealed that social inequalities are reflected in the eating habits of young people. Students at public universities, who mostly come from more vulnerable social sectors, are the most affected by the situation.
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2024-08-21 22:55:43
