Highlights:
Until August, 48% of annually targeted severely acutely malnourished children in refugee camps received therapeutic treatment and 72% of the refugee children aged 6-59 months received Vitamin A supplementation.
In August, UNICEF and UNHCR had discussions on how to reduce high numbers of anaemia among refugee pregnant and lactating mothers, and children under 5. It was agreed that UNHCR will deliver a micronutrient concentrate containing Iron and Zinc to control anaemia among all refugee children under 5 and pregnant/lactating mothers.
On 16 August 2013, UNICEF held a press conference in partnership with ECHO promoting local production and procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for Severely Acute Malnourished Children. This local production will have a positive impact on reduction of transportation costs, and on increasing rapidity to respond to the nutritional crisis.
UNICEF, UNHCR and partners are revising its unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) statistics. Until now, 336 UASC have been confirmed in Goudebou and Mentao refugee camp. In Mentao and Goudebou camp, 104 children have had follow-up visits, been registered for family tracing and received psychosocial support by UNHCR, UNICEF and other partners; while in Goudebou camp, a “location” exercise was carried out by UNHCR in order to verify the actual total numbers of separated and unaccompanied children and facilitated follow up care and support.