Hunger threatens lives of children in South Sudan

A mass nutrition screening programme has been launched by the United Nations in South Sudan to address the problem of severe acute malnutrition among children.

The United Nations Children's Fund and the World Food Programme took action after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said an estimated 237,000 children in the country were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Those suffering from malnutrition will be referred to health facilities and other nutrition treatment centres

The campaign will see 240 trained volunteers go door-to-door and assess and screen more than a quarter of a million children in Warrap, one of the 10 states of South Sudan.

Those suffering from malnutrition will be referred to health facilities and other nutrition treatment centres.

"Visiting every single home will help ensure that children who are malnourished or sick will be referred for treatment and will receive life-saving care," said Vilma Tyler, chief of nutrition for UNICEF in South Sudan.

Trained volunteers will also teach mothers and caregivers about nutrition, hygiene and sanitation to help maintain children's health.

The IPC report said that at least 30,000 people in the country were living in extreme conditions and faced starvation and death.

About 26,000 children in Warrap are thought to be acutely malnourished.

"Despite Warrap not being directly affected by the ongoing conflict, the acute levels of food insecurity, inadequate food consumption, poor maternal and child feeding practices, illnesses and limited availability of health and nutrition services have contributed to the high numbers of malnourished children," reported the IPC.

Basic health and nutrition services remain "out of reach" for most children in the South Sudan, said the UN.

Last week the IPC reported that "3.9 million people in South Sudan were in need of urgent action to save lives and livelihoods and to prevent famine".