World

Sri Lanka camp children malnourished

by sivakaran | June 26, 2009 at 12:52 pm

1502 views | 28 Recommendations | 6 comments

The Executive Director of Sarvodaya reported of high rate of malnutrition at the Menik Farm, Sri Lanka.

Nearly 5000 Internally Displaced children in the Vavuniya camps are malnourished, a charity that works in the Menik Farm IDP camp says.
Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, Executive Director of Sarvodaya told BBC Sandeshaya that there are about 30,000 to 35,000 children in Menik Farm. “Many of them are suffering from diseases and some still suffer from injuries,” he added. He also said that 15-20 percent of these children are also suffering from chronic malnutrition and acute malnutrition, and that the majority of those children are suffering from malnutrition as a result of fleeing from place to place during the last stages of the war without having access to proper meals.

UN's special representative on children and armed conflict, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy expressed her concern regarding the malnutrition, need for special feeding programmes and hopes to have UN delegation to provide advise.

"The malnutrition rates are very high, especially among young children, and [there is a] need for special feeding programmes and all those kind of things in the camps for the children.

"So, our sense is that the sooner they can get back to normalcy, to education, to schools, it is the best thing," she said.

Ms Coomaraswamy said that a UN delegation would also hope to provide advice on how to treat former child soldiers.

"The issue for us are child soldiers. Are they being separated from the adults and given the special treatment and rehabilitation they deserve, she said.

She added that the UN is also concerned about the plight of children separated from their families.

"The delegation is to look into whether there is enough effort being taken to reunite them with parents," she said.

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Habib Hassn

at 20:35 on June 26th, 2009

A good report.

lalith

at 13:32 on June 27th, 2009

Sivakaran,

Good post. Couldn't resist the temptation of commenting though. I see that you have patched up bits and pieces from articles and have done a good job of editing. Well done!

However, this does not give the readers the proper picture and they may think that you are biased or something. So, let me add a some parts from both articles quoted by you for the benefit of all, with a comment.

Dr Vinya Ariyaratne, chief executive of Sarvodaya, told the BBC Sinhala service on Tuesday that the malnutrition was a result of fleeing from place to place in the final stages of war, without having a proper meal.

He added that the Sri Lankan health ministry was working with the charity and other aid agencies to tackle the problem.

So, this malnutrition of children started by fleeing from place to place? Parents as Human Shields? Now, the second quote.

Dr Ariyaratne said that Health Ministry is working together with Sarvodaya, UNICEF and other organisers to handle the problem of malnutrition among ID children in Vavuniya camps. “It can, however, take a few weeks to few months for these children to recover,” he told BBC Sinhala Service. He further added that the authorities are working to resolve the shortage of toilets.

Now, our story looks a little more full and perhaps it will give a clearer picture to the readers. Going back to personal semi hibernation. Will be in touch. Good Luck.

I am sure that this UN Delegation will be welcome.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 22:52 on June 27th, 2009

Thank you Lalith for providing the full story.

sivakaran

at 03:45 on June 28th, 2009

First, let me thank you for adding the additional details.

Second, I have heard Sarvodaya is doing a great job in addressing the problem. However, as for health ministry, all we are hearing is statements.

As for giving clear picture to readers, perhaps if you don't throw in something like parents as human shields?

How about we also add indiscriminate heavy shelling, shortage of food, water and medical supplies?

Sarvodaya's main priority is to be able to continue their aid works, and they will only say so much so they can continue their efforts.

Uncle Sam (not verified)

at 20:56 on June 28th, 2009

Thanks for doing the editing of news such a thorough and professional way, Sivarasan. Would that be wrong if we presume that you have got professional training in journalism?