CAR, S Sudan refugees suffer from hunger: UN

People escaping crises in the Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan are growing sick and hungry with children particularly at risk, the United Nations aid agencies say.

On Tuesday, Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said there were 15 malnourished children among the latest deaths, who “died before they could be saved” at the weekend.

Around 1.8 million people have been forced out of their homes across the region amid ongoing conflicts in the two countries.

“We’re really noticing a trend in all refugees that they’re in very poor physical shape. Some are suffering from malaria, diarrhoea, respiratory infections,” Fleming said, adding, “Many have been hiding in the bush for up to even one year in the Central African Republic, which has significantly impacted their state of health. Also, very disturbingly, many children up to the age of 5 are showing varying degrees of malnourishment.

The UNHCR spokeswoman said the death of the 15 children in neighboring Cameroon was “an indication of what’s probably worse inside the country.”

UNICEF spokesman Patrick McCormick also referred to the 15 children at a news conference in the Swiss city of Geneva, saying, “I think tip of the iceberg is a very appropriate way of putting it.”

Many of those fleeing to Ethiopia from South Sudan are also malnourished. According to UNHCR, medical screening showed 11.1 percent were suffering from severe acute malnutrition and 16.6 percent from moderate acute malnutrition.