UNICEF warns of severe acute malnutrition among children in aftermath of devastating floods in Pakistan

UNICEF has warned that health facilities are reporting alarming levels of severe acute malnutrition among children in the aftermath of the devastating floods in Pakistan. According to a UNICEF statement, more than 1 in 9 children under five admitted to health facilities in flood-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan were found to be suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Of the over 22,000 children screened by health professionals since September 2022 at health facilities in flood-affected regions, more than 2,630 were diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Severe acute malnutrition, also known as severe wasting, is a life-threatening condition where children are too thin for their height, resulting in weakened immune systems. According to UNICEF, the lack of safe drinking water and hygiene increases the risk of wasting, as unsafe water can cause diarrhea and prevent children from getting the nutrients they need to survive.