1 of Every 4 Rohingya Refugee Children in B’desh Is Malnourished

The rate of severe malnutrition in Rohingya children in Kutupalong has doubled since May this year.

Rohingya Muslims wait for their turn to collect relief at the Thankhali refugee camp in Teknaf, Bangladesh

(Photo: AP)

A new World Food Programme (WFP) survey shows that malnutrition rates among Rohinyga refugees at camps in Kutupalong are increasing at an alarming rate. Preliminary findings indicate that one in four Rohinyga children suffer from malnutrition.

According to the survey, there is a 7.5 percent prevalence of life-threatening severe acute malnutrition – double the rate that was observed among Rohingya child refugees in May 2017.

The Kutupalong nutrition assessment, which took place on 22-28 October, surveyed 405 households including families who arrived there both before and after violence escalated in northern Rakhine on 25 August.

We knew already, before they left Myanmar, that the nutritional status of the population was poor, unfortunately this further deteriorated and continues to deteriorate.

Michael Dunford, Emergency Coordinator, WFP

Maungdaw district in Myanmar, where many of the refugees have come from, was among the most vulnerable and chronically food-insecure areas in Myanmar even before the current outbreak of violence, with high rates of malnutrition.

According to the WFP, the Maungdaw district in Myanmar – where many of the refugees have come from – was among the most vulnerable and chronically food-insecure areas in Myanmar even before the current outbreak of violence, with high rates of malnutrition.

WFP and the other humanitarian agencies are really putting all their efforts into providing the basics for these people: providing food, providing shelter, providing health care. 

Frances Kennedy, Spokesperson, WFP

(With inputs from AP)

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam