Number of malnourished kids in 'Sendong' areas increasing

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has expressed concern about the rising malnutrition in communities that have been devastated by tropical storm “Sendong in northern Mindanao last December.

In a statement, Unicef said “many children are still suffering” from malnutrition since massive flooding submerged low-lying communities in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

Dr. Abdul Alim, Unicef country representative, said malnutrition has long been an issue among children in Mindanao and Sendong worsened the situation.

“Malnutrition is an especially serious concern for Mindanao, where a significant number of children are already undernourished. ‘Sendong’ dealt an additional blow to these children’s health. That is why we need to keep a close eye on the situation of these vulnerable young children,” Alim said.

Unicef said, “The multiple and recurring emergencies both from situations of armed conflict and natural disasters, combined with inadequate infant and young child feeding practices and high incidence of diseases, has undermined the nutritional well-being of young children in parts of Mindanao.”

“If malnutrition is not addressed, their development and learning will be poor, and their income-earning potential as adults will be reduced,” it added.

Based on the last screening supported by Unicef in some affected areas, 207 children were found “acutely malnourished,” or 50 percent more than in the initial screening in the aftermath of Sendong.

Unicef warned that a child has a 30-percent chance of dying if malnutrition is left untreated.

The increase in the malnutrition rate, the Unicef said, may also be attributed to “compromised food supply and food quality of families who are now displaced.”

It added that one “exacerbating factor” is the “widespread donations of powdered milk which undermine breastfeeding, leading to a loss of the protective nutrients found in breast milk.”

To respond to the situation, Unicef embarked on various missions, including the distribution of “ready-to-use therapeutic food” and micronutrient powder to increase the nutritional value of food consumed by children. – With Helen Flores