FROM: INTERNET:Unicef.OLS@unicef.unon.org DATE: 7/13/98 9:17 AM Re: Press release ------------------------------------------ OLS SURVEY SHOWS CHILD MALNUTRITION IS GROWING IN BAHR EL GHAZAL Nairobi/Khartoum 13 July 1998 Despite the ongoing massive humanitarian operation being mounted by Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), the humanitarian situation in famine-hit Bahr el Ghazal is continuing to deteriorate. A recent set of nutritional surveys conducted by UNICEF in twelve rebel-held locations found that on average, 50.9 per cent of the children were malnourished. In response, OLS is preparing to double the number of children in its feeding programs. At present, OLS agencies are feeding approximately 14,000 children in 19 feeding centers and plans are underway to increase the number of feeding centers to 38 and the number of children served to 38,000. Around 4,000 of the children are estimated to require therapeutic feeding. The survey assessed over 4,000 children, which represented almost all the children in the area excluding the most severely malnourished and the healthiest. Among those excluded from the survey were children enrolled in therapeutic feeding programs in order to avoid over representation of severely malnourished children. Also excluded were children currently living in cattle camps who, due to availability of milk, tend to be healthier than those outside the camps. Measurements of weight, height and upper arm circumference were taken. The surveys indicate that the major reason for the high rates of child malnutrition is lack of food rather than prevalence of disease. The highest rates of malnutrition were found in Panthou (62.2 per cent) and Pakor (61.4 per cent). Efforts by WFP and NGOs to bring in food and provide supplementary feeding are continuing in both locations. Rapid assessments in the Government town of Wau indicate that malnutrition rates are also high among children under five. A full nutrition survey is to be conducted shortly to confirm these results. During the past six weeks, more than 45,000 people have returned to Wau in search of food. According to Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Deputy Chief of Operations, these figures confirm a disturbing trend. "During this time of year, the "hunger gap", rates of child malnutrition are always high. This year, however, we are seeing a significant increase over last year's already high figure of 40% child malnutrition. More families have suffered a complete breakdown in their livelihoods and have no means of feeding themselves. Wild foods, on which people have been surviving for the last few months, have been almost used up and the rains, on which so much is depending, are late and erratic". In order to meet the needs of 38,000 children in Bahr el Ghazal, the OLS southern sector requires a further $4 million to open a further 19 feeding centers. UNICEF is requesting an additional $1.7 million to cover the costs of opening 10 of these centers, with the remaining $2.3 million to be found from the other OLS consortium partners. The centers will be operated by OLS NGOs, including Supraid, a Sudanese NGO working in the insecure area of Twic County. Two international NGOs, Tear Fund and Merlin, have been admitted into the OLS consortium and will operate feeding centers alongside MSF-Belgium, World Vision, Save the Children and Oxfam, while WFP will assist in supplying food to the centers. For further information please contact: Ms Trudy Witbreuk, UNHCU Khartoum: (249 11) 040770 Ms Gillian Wilcox, OLS, Nairobi (254 2) 622403 - - - - - - - - - - - Distributed by Sudan Infonet An Information Service of the Sudan Working Group--USA SudanInfonet@compuserve.com Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/~SudanInfonet/ Funding provided by: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 7/16/98 3:31 PM