34 Children Die from Acute Malnutrition in First Week of September in South Sudan

Malnutrition is a major health concern in the impoverished South Sudan. A United Nations (UN) spokesperson has reported that at least 34 children have died from malnutrition in the first week of September in South Sudan's Bentiu town.

Citing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "Water and sanitation organizations are stepping up activities to address malnutrition and child mortality." OCHA said, "Malnutrition remains a major concern in South Sudan, with about a quarter of a million children severely malnourished."

The UNICEF and World Food Program has recently launched a joint nutrition scale-up plan. This initiative will see the agencies assist over two million people, including children, pregnant women and new mothers, for the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition.

Source: IANS