COLOMBO - Schoolchildren in conflict-affected areas of Sri Lanka suffer from alarming levels of malnutrition, with one in four being "stunted" or too short for their age, according to a study released today by the United Nations World Food Programme. The results of this first nutritional survey undertaken in Sri Lanka's former war zones enable WFP to tailor an appropriate food aid response to the problem of malnutrition in the country.
The WFP survey found that nearly one in three children is "wasted" or far too thin for their height, in the north and east of the island nation where a civil war was fought for nearly 20 years. In these areas, malnutrition levels are at least twice as high as the national average.
"The data shows that malnutrition levels are much higher than even we expected," said Jeff Taft-Dick, WFP Country Director for Sri Lanka. "Clearly, action is needed now to address these problems and prevent long-term, debilitating disorders."
WFP undertook the study to identify key nutrition-related problems among schoolchildren before launching a meals-in-school programme in the conflict-affected areas in August. The survey will also provide baseline data for an assessment next year to measure the impact of the WFP mid-morning meals on the children.
To gather the data, nutrition specialists examined 465 children between five and seven years of age in Grades 1 and 2 during July and August this year. They weighed and measured the height of the children and took blood samples to assess potential iron deficiency. The specialists also visited the children's homes to record the quality and quantity of their food intake over a 24-hour period.
According to the study, 30 percent of the children surveyed are wasted compared to the national average of 15 percent. The rate for stunting was 26 percent compared to 17 percent at the national level. Underweight children constitute 50 percent of the study group compared to 30 percent nationwide. In the study group, 40 percent of the children have anemia compared to 16 percent across the country.
The WFP survey also indicates that girls receive only 69 percent, and boys 71 percent, of the energy requirement of 1,750 and 1,850 kilocalories (respectively) a day recommended by the Sri Lanka health ministry. The children consume only 16 percent of the Vitamin A requirement under the ministry's "Recommended Dietary Allowances"; among other micronutrients, calcium intake is 60 percent, niacin 79 percent and Vitamin C 89 percent of the recommended allowance.
Under WFP's meals-in-school programme, 27,000 primary school children in five of the worst-off areas are eating a nutritious mid-morning meal of rice and lentil porridge or micronutrient-fortified corn-soya cakes, both supplemented with vegetables. WFP plans to expand the programme to 150,000 children in nearly 1,000 schools next year. School feeding programmes have proven to boost enrolment and attendance rates and enhance children's ability to learn.
"The war robbed children of education," Taft-Dick said. "But a school feeding programme can help restore the lost years; a meal during every school day is a small but vital investment in the future of a child and that child's country."
In March, WFP also began giving nutritional supplements in the form of corn-soy blend to nearly 80,000 women and children under three years of age in the north and east. This programme will be expanded to some 150,000 beneficiaries in 2004.
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency. In 2002 WFP fed 72 million people in 82 countries including most of the world's refugees and internally displaced people.
WFP Global School Feeding Campaign -- As the largest provider of nutritious meals to poor school children, WFP has launched a global campaign aimed at ensuring the world's 300 million undernourished children are educated.
For more information please contact:
Heather Hill, Regional Public Affairs Officer, WFP/Asia, Tel: +662-6554115 ext. 2020, Cell: + 661-7019208, E-mail: heather.hill@wfp.org
Jeff Taft-Dick, Country Director, WFP/Sri Lanka, Tel: +94-1-2508919, E-mail: jeff.taft-dick@wfp.org
René McGuffin, Public Information Officer, WFP/Rome, Tel: +39-06-65132430, E-mail: Rene.McGuffin@wfp.org
