Alarming numbers of children, lactating mothers in CAR camp malnourished - UN

A recent United Nations assessment has found that in Cameroon, up to one out of three refugee children from Central African Republic (CAR) suffer from malnutrition and one out of five pregnant and lactating refugee mothers also arrived in Cameroon malnourished, which puts their babies at a higher risk.

Another finding as per the assessment noted that, at least 17 percent of the admitted children who were suffering from malnutrition are over 5 years old. Since March 2014, more than 1,600 children have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition and are receiving therapeutic feeding centers available at the arrival points and refugees sites and hospitals.

Félicité Tchibindat, Cameroon representative of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) stated in a recent statement that “Children who have survived the horror in the CAR are now at risk of dying from malnutrition and its complications. Death is stalking these children. It is alarming to see entire families undernourished - including older children and women.”

The statement disclosed that since December last year, of the 100,000 Central African refugees - over half of whom were children - have entered Cameroon after walking and hiding in the bush for weeks, and at times for months. Among them, were, the 20 to 30 per cent of children who were under five years. Most of them were suffering from malnutrition, a rate almost twice as high as the 15 percent considered 'critical' in most emergency situations.

“It is no exaggeration to say that this nutrition crisis has well surpassed the critical level. WFP is implementing an aggressive response to ensure the absolute maximum nutrition support” said Gian Carlo Cirri, World Food Programme Cameroon Country Director.

Despite the urgency, of $9 million requested for the nutrition response for Central African refugees in Cameroon in the strategic response plan, only 2 per cent have been received so far. Additional lives will be lost if the international community does not step up its support, UN warns.