Lamwo: Authorities in Lamwo District have raised concerns of the rising cases of acute and chronic malnutrition among the refugees in Palabek Refugee Settlement camp.
According to reports, at least 34.8% of the refugees mostly women and children in the settlement camp, have been diagnosed with acute and chronic malnutrition.
The sharp rise of the condition has been attributed to severe food crisis brought by the impacts of climate change which has destroyed food crops coupled with the reduction of the monthly relief cash and food rations for refugees by the World Food Program coming as a result of the funding shortfall brought by the impacts of Covid-19 and wars.
Cliff Winston Alvarico, the Team Leader, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said it is a worrying situation that needs an urgent intervention to prevent coming as a result of hunger related complications .
According to Alvarico, of the 80,000 refugees of which 82% being female, 34% of them have been diagnosed with acute and chronic malnutrition and are undergoing treatment at their facility.
He said the problem has been made worse by shortage of food and the sale of the little food the refugees get , coupled with the harsh weather which has also ravaged the little refuges they have cultivated.
Fivi Akullu, the Palabek Refugee Commandant, said to address the problem, the government through the office of the prime minister has acquired 2,200 acres of land in Beyogoya in Palabek Gem Sub County, Lamwo District to produce of food for the refugees to help save situation.
Akullu further stressed that all the 15 nongovernmental organizations implementing livelihood programs have been tasked to put their heads together and plan for the production of food for the refugees starting next year.
Geoffrey Orsbon Oceng, Lamwo Resident Commissioner, said the severe food crisis has not only resulted in malnutrition but also insecurity within the settlement camp.
Malnutrition is a serious condition that happens when your diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients.
Uganda is home to 1.4 million refugees who have settled in West Nile, Acholi sub region and East Uganda.
