It is estimated that over 242,000 children under the age of five will suffer from severe malnutrition this year in Ethiopia. With the lack of clean, safe drinking water further outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea pose a threat for children already suffering from severe malnutrition. UNICEF is providing therapeutic food to feeding centres and training health professionals to cope with increasing demands. In the longer term, UNICEF is carrying out nutrition surveillance to help prevent malnutrition and respond to ongoing needs across the whole country. This is already being implemented in over 200 districts. But levels of acute malnutrition in young children are increasing and a cause of serious concern. Severe malnutrition normally carries a 9–10 fold risk of death, but a child can escape this fate if properly treated with a therapeutic food, such as Plumpy’nut®. Plumpy’nut® is popular with small children because it tastes good, like a sweeter version of peanut butter. The energy-rich paste contains the right balance of proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to treat severe malnutrition. It is cheap to produce, extremely effective, eaten straight from the packet, eliminating the risk of contamination; it can even be administered at home as long as children do not have additional medical complications or serious illness. A gift of £15,000 to UNICEF can ensure that 1,500 severely malnourished children in Ethiopia will access therapeutic feeding this year.