ALARMING RATES OF MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN IN KAKUMA REFUGEE CAMP, KENYA
By Emmanuel Malual Makuach, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
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Alarming rates of malnutrition among children in Kakuma Refugee Camp has emerged as a international concern and warning about serious malnutrition among small children and elderly people is being voiced.
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An international medical organization has warned of the alarming rates of malnutrition among thousands of children who are in desperate need of foods assistance and medical care.
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Among the options being discussed are opening up of feeding programs for the elderly and the young malnourished children.
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According to health worker in charge of community health in the camp, Madam Mary, children under the age of 5 to 59 months are the most malnourished.
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Moreover, malnutrition is highest in some countries with internal conflict and shortages of food than countries without conflict.
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Health workers who carried out assessment from January to April this year in the camp and the border areas have come out with a report saying that the children and elderly people from conflicts zones such as South Sudan and Somalia are the most affected by the malnutrition.
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The UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNCHR), the World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Children Fund say that the camp is home to 237100 refugees from the conflicts in neighboring South Sudan and Somalia.
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Mary, one of the health workers, says that the camp is in harsh environment which is the most challenge the new arrival from South Sudan confront. This is coupled with the ill-advised Kenya government’s policies that prohibit farming, grazing or work outside the camps. This means that refugees entirely dependent on food aid.
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Renewed conflict in South Sudan has seen another 40,000 new arrivals into the camp since mid-December 15th, 2013. That has contribute big numbers of refugees, resulting to food shortages and acute malnutrition crisis that is being witnessed in the refugee camp among children and elderly people.
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(Reporting by Emmanuel Malual from Kakuma, Kenya; Editing by PaanLuel Wel from Juba, South Sudan)
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