Unicef highlights food crisis in southern Sudan
16 November 2009
An international
humanitarian charity has called for an end to food shortages in the
African nation of Sudan.
According to Unicef, the south of the country is currently
witnessing a food crisis, made worse by insecurity in regions such
as Jonglei.
Hilde F Johnson, Unicef deputy executive director, visited the
nation on a three-day fact-finding mission that saw her visit
hard-hit areas such as Jonglie, Malakal, Akobo and Bor.
"Everybody needs to do their best to stop this humanitarian
emergency, which is already affecting 1.5 million people across
southern Sudan," she said.
Ms Johnson commented that children are often most affected by
nutritional shortages, adding that a child with severe acute
malnutrition has a 25-50 per cent chance of death unless treated
properly.
The shortage of food was triggered by poor rain levels in
southern Sudan.
Unicef hosts 79 therapeutic outreach centres across the country,
while it has also trained 108 health workers and 122 community
workers.
Some 85 per cent of the charity's staff is currently working in
a developing country.
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