Concerns about malnutrition

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed “grave concern” about the rates of malnutrition amongst internally displaced people in the city of Huambo in southern Angola. A spokesperson for WFP in Angola said that although malnutrition was generally high in Angola, with the resumption of the war last December, certain areas like Huambo had shown higher levels of malnutrition than before. She said that other areas showing high levels of malnutrition included Malanje to the east of the capital Luanda and Kuito the capital city of the Bie province. WFP said that about 20 percent of the children in Huambo were showing physical symptoms of malnutrition, which included low weight per height and kwashiorkor. Kwashiorkor is a disease that mainly affects children and is caused by a lack of protein in their diets. A recent joint survey by WFP, the UN’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the non governmental organisation, Save the Children showed that of this 20 percent at least 3 percent were severely malnourished. This lead to an estimated 1,500 children being placed at extra care centres where they receive highly nutritional food and medical attention. WFP Representative in Angola, Francesco Strippoli said: “We are working with our partners to provide emergency food three times a day to alleviate the plight of these severely malnourished children.” About 128,000 people have sought refuge in city of Huambo and are living in squalid conditions and with no access to food they are largely dependent on international aid.