Menu
26/07/2004
Starvation threatens lives of Eritrean children: UN
Prolonged drought and destablisation following conflict with Ethiopia are behind the sharp rise in child death rates among the 400,000 children in Eritrea who are living in extreme poverty, according to a new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report.
The agency called for an additional $3.8 million to fund health, nutrition, water and sanitation projects and to support children displaced by the crisis in the East African country for the rest of the year.
Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a two-and-a-half-year war from 1998 that claimed tens of thousands of lives. A UN peacekeeping mission currently operates in the area, and both countries have been warned to end the stalemate to avoid devastating consequences for their people
Half of all families are dependent on women who are themselves experiencing malnutrition because of food shortages. With 425,000 children under the age of 14 affected, child mortality rates have risen to 15 per 100,000 per day in some areas due to the extreme water shortages, according to the Eritrean health ministry.
UNICEF has said that there was evidence that more children were living on the streets in urban areas where there are similar food shortages. In two months, the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission had only been able to provide flour to 100,000 people.
UNICEF is supporting 30,000 malnourished children with supplementary food and providing 30 therapeutic feeding centres with supplies and equipment. Some 35,000 people are receiving water by truck but much more is required, the agency has said.
(gmcg)
The agency called for an additional $3.8 million to fund health, nutrition, water and sanitation projects and to support children displaced by the crisis in the East African country for the rest of the year.
Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a two-and-a-half-year war from 1998 that claimed tens of thousands of lives. A UN peacekeeping mission currently operates in the area, and both countries have been warned to end the stalemate to avoid devastating consequences for their people
Half of all families are dependent on women who are themselves experiencing malnutrition because of food shortages. With 425,000 children under the age of 14 affected, child mortality rates have risen to 15 per 100,000 per day in some areas due to the extreme water shortages, according to the Eritrean health ministry.
UNICEF has said that there was evidence that more children were living on the streets in urban areas where there are similar food shortages. In two months, the Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission had only been able to provide flour to 100,000 people.
UNICEF is supporting 30,000 malnourished children with supplementary food and providing 30 therapeutic feeding centres with supplies and equipment. Some 35,000 people are receiving water by truck but much more is required, the agency has said.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 August 2011
Vitamin A For Children Could Save 600,000 Lives
Children in low and middle income countries should be given vitamin A supplements to prevent death and illness, a study published on bmj.com today has concluded.
Vitamin A For Children Could Save 600,000 Lives
Children in low and middle income countries should be given vitamin A supplements to prevent death and illness, a study published on bmj.com today has concluded.
02 August 2004
Breastfeeding holds key to saving lives of 1.3m babies: Unicef
If more infants worldwide are given only mother’s milk and no food or formula until the age of six months, at least 1.3 million lives could be saved this year, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said.
Breastfeeding holds key to saving lives of 1.3m babies: Unicef
If more infants worldwide are given only mother’s milk and no food or formula until the age of six months, at least 1.3 million lives could be saved this year, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said.
23 May 2013
Charities Highlight Rise In Children Abusing Children
Children’s charities have warned that an increasing number of children are being abused by other children, adding that their helplines have seen a growing number of calls from children about sexual abuse.
Charities Highlight Rise In Children Abusing Children
Children’s charities have warned that an increasing number of children are being abused by other children, adding that their helplines have seen a growing number of calls from children about sexual abuse.
13 June 2011
World's Poorest Children To Be Immunised By 2015
Major public and private donors achieved a milestone in global health today by committing funding to immunise more than 250 million of the world’s poorest children against life-threatening diseases by 2015 and prevent more than four million premature deaths. At the summit in London, countries are being asked to give an extra £2.3bn ($3.
World's Poorest Children To Be Immunised By 2015
Major public and private donors achieved a milestone in global health today by committing funding to immunise more than 250 million of the world’s poorest children against life-threatening diseases by 2015 and prevent more than four million premature deaths. At the summit in London, countries are being asked to give an extra £2.3bn ($3.
29 July 2004
Bangladesh's children face epidemic threat: Unicef
Millions of children in Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka are facing an increasing risk of potentially fatal diseases as sewers mix with the floodwaters that have devastated the south Asian country, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has warned. As the dank floodwater stagnates, children face an increasing risk of disease.
Bangladesh's children face epidemic threat: Unicef
Millions of children in Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka are facing an increasing risk of potentially fatal diseases as sewers mix with the floodwaters that have devastated the south Asian country, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has warned. As the dank floodwater stagnates, children face an increasing risk of disease.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
