Number of malnourished continue to rise

The number of vulnerable people due to food insecurity is now estimated at 16 million, about 33 percent of the total DRC population, with 4.3 percent of the households facing chronic food insecurity characterised by an upsurge of severe malnutrition among children and adults, according to UNICEF. “Even though access is difficult due to insecurity, assistance to these people is critical,” UNICEF said in its DRC April humanitarian action update. It categorised displaced persons, DRC refugees in third countries, refugees in DRC and children in particularly difficult circumstances as being the most affected population.

UNICEF, however, has continued support for some 83 therapeutic feeding centres (TFCs) countrywide. It said that at present some 6,650 malnourished children are treated monthly for severe malnutrition. To ensure the continuation of their assistance until June 2001, UNICEF has provided its partners with more than 200 mt of therapeutic milk in the past weeks.