Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin - High Malnutrition Rates in Gedo Region

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Three nutrition surveys conducted in Gedo region in December 2010, by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit FSNAU indicate that malnutrition levels have increased to 25 percent, showing a deterioration from six months ago when the rates were around 17.9 percent. In an alert issued on 10 January, FSNAU said that all the three livelihoods of pastoralists, agro pastoralists and populations living along the Juba River are equally affected. However, FSNAU says despite the situation being grim, mortality rates have not increased in any of the surveyed areas.

Gedo has during the past two decades recorded malnutrition rates above 15 percent (the emergency threshold). This is due to limited access to health services, poor infant and young child feeding practices and poor quality diets. The failed 2010 Deyr rainy season (October-December) has also reduced food at the household level, especially milk. These results highlight a need for increased services to assist the affected children and increase the food access to prevent relapse. FSNAU will release a more detailed analysis of the nutrition situation in Somalia on 28 January.
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