UNICEF says that it is concerned by a growing number of refugee children with severe acute malnutrition from the Central African Republic (CAR) in neighbouring countries, such as Cameroun.

The two-year conflict in the CAR, between the mainly Christian anti-Balaka and Muslim Séléka movements, has led to high numbers of displaced people seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Chad or Cameroun.

Many people have been on the run for months on end, which has in turn led to high incidences of severe acute malnutrition.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a major killer of children under five years of age but increasing numbers of CAR refugee children eight years or older have the condition, including their mothers.

It’s characterised by extreme weight loss and sometimes by oedema, or swelling.

Laurent Duvillier, the Regional Communication Specialist, for the UNICEF’s West and Central Africa office spoke to Anzhelika Devis about the effect that the fighting in CAR is having on the children.

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