Over 1.6 million children face acute malnutrition next year 

By Awan Achiek

An estimated 1.65 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from July 2023 to June 2024, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) report released on Monday.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a joint report said the total number of  Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) cases are estimated at 0.48 million and 1.16 million respectively.

It noted that Bentiu town and Rubkona County are some of the areas where children are at most risk of severe acute malnutrition in April 2024.

It said that the nutrition situation is expected to deteriorate through the next lean season with 67 counties projected to be facing serious, critical, or very critical malnutrition levels across the country.

The Un agencies blamed prevalence of disease, poor access to safe water sources and sanitation, food insecurity, and inadequate feeding practices – compounded by high numbers of children returning from Sudan among the key contributing factors to the increased acute malnutrition rates.

Only 5 children out of 100 are getting the recommended quality and frequency of food required for optimal growth, it said.

About 34.6% of affect ted children achieved the minimum meal frequency while only 21% achieved the minimum dietary diversity.  

 “An estimated 1.6 million children up to the age of five years are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition,” said Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director during the launch of the report in Juba.

Ismail Khan, Deputy Country Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in South Sudan, said the nutrition cluster is seeking $ 210 million to address needs of children suffering from acute malnutrition and adults facing food shortage.

 “More funding is needed to alleviate this critical acute malnutrition situation. The Nutrition Cluster partners need USD 210 million, including USD 6.5 million for South Sudanese returning from Sudan,”  Khan said.

 “Despite the growing needs as demonstrated by the IPC findings and the impact of the Sudan crisis, against reductions in funding over time, we continue counting on stronger collaboration with donors, government, UN Agencies and other partners to improve the situation and turn the tide of the growing malnutrition burden,” he added.

Khan called on the government of South Sudan, the international community, and all stakeholders to continue working together to address the food security crisis in South Sudan.

“We must ensure that everyone, particularly children, has access to the food they need to survive and thrive. This IPC shall help us in rationalizing the available limited resources to reach to the most vulnerable, more efficiently, and effectively while working towards maintaining gains already achieved,” he said