Humanitarian agencies say hundreds of children in the North are suffering from severe malnutrition, with essential supplies, including therapeutic food supplements given to severely malnourished children, yet to reach them.
According to the Kilinochchi District Hospital, more than 500 children below the age of five in the Kilinochchi District, suffer from severe malnutrition.
Nutrition screening in Jaffna has identified a further 407 children suffering from 3 SD or Severe Acute Malnutrition, a UN affiliated agency said.
The Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) quoted the Kilinochchi District Secretary as saying that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had not given permission to transport food items for consumption by the general public, through the Omanthai crossing point into Kilinochchi, in the months of February and March.
“MPCSs report that food stocks in the district are running low. Wheat flour shortages have been reported from some villages in the north-east of Kilinochchi District. The Regional Divisional Health Services (RDHS) office-in Kilinochchi reports that no MoD permission had been given to bring in essential drugs from the stores in Vavuniya for the first quarter of the year. This is further exacerbating the lack of essential medicines in government run medical facilities,” IASC said.
The Kilinochchi District Secretary reports that 4,025 acres of paddy that was ready for harvesting had been destroyed by floods brought on by un-seasonal rains.
Meanwhile, the Jaffna RDHS had forwarded a supply request, through the Director General of Health Services in Colombo, for the supply of BP 100 (the therapeutic food supplement used for severely malnourished children), in order that the Nutrition Rehabilitation Programme may continue, as stocks were running low.
“Nutrition screening identified 407 children to have 3 SD,” IASC said.
Interestingly, in January this year, a UNICEF consignment of BP 100 destined for malnourished children in the north, was seized after the government claimed the high protein biscuits were used by combatants as rations.
The stocks were however subsequently released to UNICEF, but sources at the agency fear the delay to get the consignment to Kilinochchi may have contributed to the malnutrition experienced in the district. The Military was not available for comment on the issue.
According to the Kilinochchi District Hospital, more than 500 children below the age of five in the Kilinochchi District, suffer from severe malnutrition.
Nutrition screening in Jaffna has identified a further 407 children suffering from 3 SD or Severe Acute Malnutrition, a UN affiliated agency said.
The Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) quoted the Kilinochchi District Secretary as saying that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had not given permission to transport food items for consumption by the general public, through the Omanthai crossing point into Kilinochchi, in the months of February and March.
“MPCSs report that food stocks in the district are running low. Wheat flour shortages have been reported from some villages in the north-east of Kilinochchi District. The Regional Divisional Health Services (RDHS) office-in Kilinochchi reports that no MoD permission had been given to bring in essential drugs from the stores in Vavuniya for the first quarter of the year. This is further exacerbating the lack of essential medicines in government run medical facilities,” IASC said.
The Kilinochchi District Secretary reports that 4,025 acres of paddy that was ready for harvesting had been destroyed by floods brought on by un-seasonal rains.
Meanwhile, the Jaffna RDHS had forwarded a supply request, through the Director General of Health Services in Colombo, for the supply of BP 100 (the therapeutic food supplement used for severely malnourished children), in order that the Nutrition Rehabilitation Programme may continue, as stocks were running low.
“Nutrition screening identified 407 children to have 3 SD,” IASC said.
Interestingly, in January this year, a UNICEF consignment of BP 100 destined for malnourished children in the north, was seized after the government claimed the high protein biscuits were used by combatants as rations.
The stocks were however subsequently released to UNICEF, but sources at the agency fear the delay to get the consignment to Kilinochchi may have contributed to the malnutrition experienced in the district. The Military was not available for comment on the issue.
