UNICEF warns against worsening conditions of children in eastern Sudan
Xinhua, November 16, 2015 Adjust font size:
UN Children Fund (UNICEF) has warned against worsening conditions of children in eastern Sudan due to malnutrition.
"Malnutrition in eastern Sudan is worse than in Darfur," Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF resident representative in Sudan, said at a press conference in Khartoum Sunday.
He noted that UNICEF would launch a call to provide a budget to address malnutrition issue.
He further said that UNICEF would open an office in eastern Sudan to strengthen its presence there.
Meanwhile, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi, who concluded a visit to Sudan Sunday, expressed fear over the challenges facing the work of UNICEF in Sudan, particularly with regard to accessing all children.
He noted that despite the progress achieved in reducing the death rates of children aged less than five years from 83 percent to 68 percent, together with increasing the number of children in schools, yet some areas are still suffering from children malnutrition.
He explained that the budget allotted for Sudan amounts to 130 million U.S. Dollars, enough for only 60 percent of the needs. He urged the partners to continue their support for UNICEF programs in Sudan. Endit