Over 1.3 million children to suffer from  ‘acute malnutrition’ in 2020 -UNICEF warns 

Oct 16th, 2019 (SSNN)-The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a grim warning, predicting that about 1.3 million children will be on the verge of “acute malnutrition” by the end of this year if child malnutrition is not prevented.

“Some 1.3 million South Sudanese children under five years old are at risk of suffering from ‘acute malnutrition’ in 2020,” UNICEF warned in a report seen by South Sudan News Now.

Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan stated that every child suffering from malnutrition is an indicator of ignoring the suffering of children and in fact clear evidence of child rights violations in South Sudan.

“Every child in need of treatment for malnutrition is a failure, a failure in preventing the suffering,” said Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya in the report.

“Preventing malnutrition is an essential part of realizing every child’s right to health. Young children can suffer lifelong consequences and in worst case die if malnutrition is not addressed timely during the first crucial years in life,” he added.

The report highlighted that only 7% of South Sudanese children aged under five years enjoyed an adequate diet.

The report underlined the link between child malnutrition and suffering common diseases, including malaria, which it said were often “the starting point for malnutrition”.

The UN Children’s Agency highlighted that only 50% of the population has access to clean water and 10% to sanitation and hygiene.

The UNICEF report notes that addressing poor sanitation and ensuring that clean and safe drinking water is provided on a daily basis can be a best practice and is critical in preventing diarrhea, which is a risk factor for child malnutrition.

“Ensuring clean water and addressing poor sanitation and hygiene practices are also essential to preventing diarrheal diseases causing malnutrition,” the report further said.

The organization alerted in its new report that the incidence of acute malnutrition among children in the country increased from 13% in 2018 to 16% in 2019, exceeding the emergency threshold of 15%.