Glossary
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Malnutrition
Cellular imbalance between the supply of nutrients and energy and the body’s demand for them to ensure growth, maintenance, and specific functions. It is a general term for the medical condition that is caused by improper or insufficient nutrition, which is not adequate to maintain good health. The adverse effects of malnutrition include both physical and developmental manifestations.
- Global acute malnutrition (GAM) is a measurement of the nutritional status of a population (often used in protracted refugee situations). It is one of the basic indicators for assessing the severity of a humanitarian crisis. To evaluate levels of GAM, the weight and height of children between 6 and 59 months are measured, and used as a proxy for the health of the population as a whole.
- Severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
Kwashiorkor Malnutrition brought on by a protein deficiency which causes fluids to drain from the blood into the stomach, causing swelling.
Marasmus Resulting from a general lack of calories, causing extreme emaciation with a loss of muscle and fat tissue. It is considered a medical emergency and, untreated, will most often result in death.
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Management Systems Renewal Project (MSRP)
UNHCR’s electronic systems for finance, supply chain, human resources and payroll management.
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Mandate refugees
Individuals who are recognized as refugees by UNHCR acting under the authority of its Statute and relevant UN General Assembly resolutions. Mandate status is especially significant in States that are not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.
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Mexico Plan of Action
The Mexico Plan of Action, launched in 2004, aims to enhance international refugee protection in Latin America by further developing international refugee law, consolidating protection networks and improving the ability of States to provide effective protection to all people in need. Its focus is on providing durable solutions for urban refugees, in particular self-reliance; the special needs of refugee women; the Colombian conflict and its impact, as well as solutions at border areas; and the use of resettlement opportunities in the region.
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Mixed migratory flows
Movements of people from one country and/or continent to another which may include both people who are in need of international protection and others who are not. Mixed flows are likely when a country of origin is simultaneously affected by human rights violations, economic decline and an absence of opportunities of livelihood. Such flows of people, involving both refugees and migrants, are commonly referred to as “mixed movements”.
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Modified-cash basis
Modified-cash basis is an accounting method that combines elements of the two major accounting methods, the cash method and the accrual method. The cash method recognizes income when it is received and expenses when they are paid for, whereas the accrual method recognizes income when it is earned (for example, when the terms of a contract are fulfilled) and expenses when they are incurred. The modified-cash basis method uses accruals for long-term balance sheet elements and the cash basis for short-term ones. UNHCR currently prepares its budget under the cash basis, and will use the modified-cash basis to compare actual amounts to budget amounts as required by IPSAS 24.
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