Somalia: Malnutrition killing hundreds of children, UN says
The fifth drought in as many years has pushed Somalia to the brink and raised fears of a deadly famine. Currently, hundreds of children have died from severe malnutrition. About 730 children have died in feeding centers around Somalia this year, the UN children's agency UNICEF said on Tuesday. Nutrition centers help children suffering from severe malnutrition. The announcement came a day after the UN warned of imminent famine in the Horn of Africa. The region is facing its fifth consecutive monsoon season. "Malnutrition has reached unprecedented levels," said Wafa Said, UNICEF representative in Somalia. Children are particularly vulnerable to hunger Between January and July of this year, "about 730 children reportedly died in feeding centers across the country," Said said. He spoke to journalists in Geneva via video link from Mogadishu. This represents less than one percent of hospitalized children who recovered and were discharged. The prices that aid groups p