Child malnutrition concern in Aweil East

The results of a nutritional survey in Aweil East, Bahr al-Ghazal, last month raise serious concerns about malnutrition rates among children, particularly those between six months and two years old, according to the Christian NGO Tearfund. The survey (carried out in Malwalbai, Madol, Baag, Mangartong, Mangok, Wunlang, Yargut and Korok) showed a global malnutrition rate of 28.9 percent (<-2 z scores) and a severe malnutrition rate of 5.5 percent (<-3 z scores), compared to 15.5 percent and 1.8 percent in March, the NGO reported. The malnutrition rates had risen since March mainly as a result of the exhaustion of food baskets at the household level, with buried food having been dug up and eaten, it said. Children from six to 24 months were the most affected category, primarily as a result of weaning practices. The survey results illustrated a serious malnutrition problem at this stage of the “hungry season” (which has been exacerbated this year by drought), with over two months to go before the first groundnut harvest, the NGO stated. “The situation is evidently becoming more alarming and may reach crisis conditions should insecurity cause large-scale displacement into the region,” it added. Almost two-thirds of the population (63.6 percent) relied on food rations from the WFP, while the remainder did not have access to this intervention and stood a higher risk of a rapid decline in their nutritional status, according to Tearfund. Most of the population surveyed did not have livestock, “leaving more than 90 percent of the people with no access to milk or any form of meat foods”, it said. It was essential that a mobile feeding programme was continued in the area to prevent a general deterioration, and that health education, nutrition and food security lessons be given alongside feeding sessions. In addition, the general WFP food ration needed to be increased from 50 percent to 75 percent, and a more targeted intervention aimed at increasing the food availability for people currently affected by malnutrition to hasten their recovery rate, Tearfund stated.