‘30% of eastern Sudan children malnourished’: Hospital Director

28/06/2013 21:55

The Medical Director of the Children’s Hospital in Port Sudan, Dr Zafaran Al Zaki, has confirmed that there has been an outbreak of acute malnutrition among children in eastern Sudan. In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Dr Al Zaki said that it is occurring in various segments of society, and affects about 30 per cent of children. She says that this figure can be expected to rise during the period from October to March, attributing it to “economic factors and the acute poverty among people of eastern Sudan”. Dr Al Zaki says that the rate increases on the outskirts of the city, but expressed surprise about the spread of malnutrition among the children of workers in Port Sudan. “The main cause of malnutrition is a failure to eat a balanced diet, especially a shortage of protein. It can be simple, medium or acute,” she said. “All we receive at the hospital are the acute cases, that often result in death.”In its latest report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that malnutrition rates in east Sudan are the highest in the country, with 28 per cent of children suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition in Red Sea State. The data was provided by the Sudan Household Survey (SHHS). Water shortage The water shortage in Port Sudan is prompting many people to migrate to other cities in Sudan. This is overstretching the bus system, that has seen ticket prices soar from SDG80 ($18) to SDG150 ($35) on the black market, while a tin of water has risen from SDG4 ($0.90) to SDG5 ($1.14). And activist from Port Sudan told Radio Dabanga that with the ongoing water shortage has caused overcrowding and panic at the bus station. “As there are no clear solutions in sight, most of the population want to desert the city, so the price of a ticket from Port Sudan to Khartoum and other cities has risen to SDG150 ($35),” he said.“Neither the central government nor the state authorities are serious about finding solutions to the water crisis. When the First Vice President committed visited the city, he promised to provide funds as well as ten large tankers to relieve the crisis, but a month has passed without result, and peoples’ suffering continues to grow,” the activist lamented.In its report, OCHA also pointed out that people in eastern Sudan (Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref States) continue to have limited access to clean water and basic services. Earlier this month, a member of the Legislative Council of Red Sea state warned to Radio Dabanga of “a real disaster” in the area as the water crisis in and around Port Sudan deteriorated on a daily basis.File photo: A water vendor in Red Sea state (UNEP)Related:‘Acute humanitarian needs in eastern Sudan’: OCHA (27 June 2013) Port Sudan water shortage – Red Sea Councillor warns of ‘real disaster’ (12 June 2013) Water shortage closes schools in eastern Sudan – rebel sympathies grow (31 May 2013)

The Medical Director of the Children’s Hospital in Port Sudan, Dr Zafaran Al Zaki, has confirmed that there has been an outbreak of acute malnutrition among children in eastern Sudan.

In an interview with Radio Dabanga, Dr Al Zaki said that it is occurring in various segments of society, and affects about 30 per cent of children. She says that this figure can be expected to rise during the period from October to March, attributing it to “economic factors and the acute poverty among people of eastern Sudan”.

Dr Al Zaki says that the rate increases on the outskirts of the city, but expressed surprise about the spread of malnutrition among the children of workers in Port Sudan.

“The main cause of malnutrition is a failure to eat a balanced diet, especially a shortage of protein. It can be simple, medium or acute,” she said. “All we receive at the hospital are the acute cases, that often result in death.”

In its latest report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted that malnutrition rates in east Sudan are the highest in the country, with 28 per cent of children suffering from moderate or severe acute malnutrition in Red Sea State. The data was provided by the Sudan Household Survey (SHHS).

Water shortage

The water shortage in Port Sudan is prompting many people to migrate to other cities in Sudan. This is overstretching the bus system, that has seen ticket prices soar from SDG80 ($18) to SDG150 ($35) on the black market, while a tin of water has risen from SDG4 ($0.90) to SDG5 ($1.14).

And activist from Port Sudan told Radio Dabanga that with the ongoing water shortage has caused overcrowding and panic at the bus station.

“As there are no clear solutions in sight, most of the population want to desert the city, so the price of a ticket from Port Sudan to Khartoum and other cities has risen to SDG150 ($35),” he said.

“Neither the central government nor the state authorities are serious about finding solutions to the water crisis. When the First Vice President committed visited the city, he promised to provide funds as well as ten large tankers to relieve the crisis, but a month has passed without result, and peoples’ suffering continues to grow,” the activist lamented.

In its report, OCHA also pointed out that people in eastern Sudan (Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref States) continue to have limited access to clean water and basic services. Earlier this month, a member of the Legislative Council of Red Sea state warned to Radio Dabanga of “a real disaster” in the area as the water crisis in and around Port Sudan deteriorated on a daily basis.

File photo: A water vendor in Red Sea state (UNEP)

Related:

‘Acute humanitarian needs in eastern Sudan’: OCHA (27 June 2013)

Port Sudan water shortage – Red Sea Councillor warns of ‘real disaster’ (12 June 2013)

Water shortage closes schools in eastern Sudan – rebel sympathies grow (31 May 2013)