UNICEF warns of malnutrition risk in Nepal after earthquakes

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on Monday estimated around 70,000 children under five are at risk of malnutrition and require urgent humanitarian support, one month after the first of two major earthquakes hit Nepal.

According to UNICEF, around 15,000 children in 14 of the worst-hit districts need therapeutic foods for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.

Additionally, some 55,000 children with moderate acute malnutrition require supplementary feeding and care to bring them back to healthy growth and development.

"Before the earthquake, more than 1 in 10 children across Nepal were already suffering from acute malnutrition, while close to 4 in 10 had stunted growth due to chronic under-nutrition," said Tomoo Hozumi, UNICEF's Representative in Nepal.

"Now we have serious concerns that the situation could deteriorate in the wake of this disaster and undo the gains in nutrition that this country has achieved in the past few years," he added.

He said UNICEF is working double speed with partners to provide urgent feeding and care to protect the lives of these children and to build their resistance against diseases, especially water-borne diseases, during the upcoming monsoon season.

UNICEF said across nearly two dozen districts affected by the earthquake 1.7 million children remain in urgent need of humanitarian aid, with the risk of long-term physical and emotional conditions climbing.

"We are already seeing a growth in chronic conditions, such as children with acute respiratory infections provoked by the dust from the debris in the towns and villages," said Hozumi.

He warned children would also be living with long term disabilities as a result of injuries sustained in the earthquake, as well as anxiety problems. Endit