UNICEF says Pacific children suffering because of El Nino

Transcript

The United Nations Children's agency UNICEF says young people in the Pacific are suffering from malnutrition and diarhoea because of the El Nino weather system.

The El Nino has caused severe drought through much of the region including Vanuatu which is still recovering from Cyclone Pam.

UNICEF Pacific Representative Karen Allen told Koro Vaka'uta affected children are showing signs of malnutrition and diarrhoea which could lead to greater developmental issues in the future.

KAREN ALLEN:  We know children in some places children are hungry, children are undernourished.  Children are not going to school or if they do go to school they are not able to concentrate. They go all day just chewing on some 'bush rope' or they are out looking for food and water or they are lying at home without even enough energy.  On top of that there is insufficient water for even minimum emergency standards.  They are also getting diarrhoea, skin diseases, conjunctivitis.

KORO VAKA'UTA:  Has there been time to prepare for this, and if so, have the appropriate authorities prepared sufficiently?

KA:  We started many months ago contacting all of our governments across the Pacific.  They were aware, some a little bit slower than others, but preparation measures were being taken.  Some governments have activated those plans, such as in Fiji, where they have been shipping and trucking water.  Preparedness measures were taken but particularly in countries that were recently affected by cyclone, where you are not even yet recovered from a major disaster, it's difficult to talk about being adequately prepared for another disaster.

KV:  The likes of Vanuatu are even more affected, is UNICEF doing any particular work there?

KA:  All of the development and humanitarian partners are pitching in.  The government has reactivated the Emergency Group.  We think about 15,000 households are affected.  We're working in water sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, health and also helping schools.

KV:  As far as children are concerned, how at risk are they?  Is there the possibility of death?

KA:  We have official confirmation that one two-year old has died.  We know that diarrhoea cases are up.  We know that more children are being identified as malnourished.  For now, there's just the one confirmed death in Vanuatu but we know that many, many more are now at very high risk.

KV:  Any kind of extra stress can affect their futures as well, developmentally, educationally, that sort of thing as well yes?

KA:  It is affecting them.  We know the importance of proper nutrition especially under age five on brain development.  The majority of the brain cells are formed before the age and if there is no proper nutrition and there's chronic illness that just doesn't happen.  We also know that stunting, even in a non-El Nino year is a growing problem in the Pacific.                      

KV:  What else needs to be done now to further ease the situation?

KA:  We need better costing?  How much money will be needed vis-à-vis how much is available.  We need more information on numbers affected as well as projections.  The food distribution going on in Vanuatu, is that sufficient?  Will more need to go in the food package?  For how many more months?  Is the number likely to increase?  Who will need it?  We know that this is not a one time fix.  We know we are going to have to sustain it for several months.  Secondly, we're really still in need of stronger co-ordination so that we don't have situation of very well-meaning, hard working people, but each rushing off doing different things in an uncoordinated way because we know that leads to gaps.