Rise in child deaths in Afar

Child deaths in drought-stricken Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia, have risen dramatically over the past four months, according to the latest nutritional survey from the area. Some 36 children have died in the regional capital Asyaita alone, with high numbers of deaths in other towns, the study by the nongovernmental organisation, World Vision, revealed. Children in Afar, a region of mainly pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, also suffered from a high degree of stunting. Around one third of children were stunted, it said. According to the report, acute malnutrition has reached around six percent while global malnutrition stands at 30 percent. The Ethiopian government’s emergency arm - the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) - states that global malnutrition rates are critical if they are above 20 percent. And acute malnutrition is critical if above three percent. World Vision also said there had been “a decline in the meal quality and quantity” in the Aysaita, Afambo and Dubti districts, where they carried out the study. The high level of malnutrition has also contributed to diseases with serious cases of diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory illnesses. World Vision said families were being forced to migrate because of the severity of the conditions. Poor quality livestock had also contributed to the lack of food. “Lack of health services due to the very poor capacity of health institutions and lack of skilled manpower in the area also contributed to the prevailing high malnutrition rate in the area," the organisation added.