MSF calls for urgent attention to children under severe malnutrition in Leer town
November 20, 2015 (LEER) -The international medical organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said its team that reached communities in Leer county of Unity were shocked by their findings that many children in the area were suffering from severe risk of malnourishment.
The medical charity in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday has described conditions faced by people especially children under ages of five years as highly with severe cases of malnutrition.
The organization was forced to suspend its medical activities in Leer areas on 3 October with thousands of people fleeing into bushes. For the last six weeks, Leer was at risk posting fears to humanitarian organization to continue with activities on the ground.
Tara Newell who is an emergency manager for MSF in Leer town said their teams have conducted mobile clinics in Leer and other surrounding five villages for treatment of two thousand patients.
She said during mobile clinics, the medical organization teams have conducted rapid nutritional assessments.
“In all locations, the teams encountered children suffering from severe acute malnutrition,” she said.
According to the MSF, a total of 731 children who are less than 5 years old were screened of which 43 suffered from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) which is about 5.9%.
The report says, children in the area urgently required access to sustained medical treatment in order to prevent them from risk of death.
“MSF teams are very concerned about the malnutrition situation,” said Newell,” add “MSF must have sustained access to Leer and surrounding villages in order to address the urgent medical needs, particularly malnutrition.”
This month the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sent peacekeeping forces to Leer town to help protect civilians who are targeted by government forces in the conflict.
Newell said the deployments of UN troops to Leer town will aid the operations of humanitarian organizations to carryout relief assistance to affected communities.
“The recent deployment of United Nations mission (UNMISS) to Leer must work to ensure protection for the vulnerable population in this conflict-affected area. Aid actors must also mobilize to meet the basic needs of the population,” she said.
The southern part of Unity State was the worst affected, with majority of populations living in the bushes due to fear of attacks from the other side of the warring parties.
However, the new measure taken by UNMISS to set up protection camps in Leer town will help thousands of people to return to their homes in the area.
(ST)