UN: Child death rates ‘alarming’
Published:Tuesday | August 16, 2011 | 5:59 PM
The United Nations is reporting that death rates are now at alarming levels at a refugee camp in Ethiopia.
According to the UN, on average about 10 children under five-years-old die each day.
It said the high child mortality levels have been compounded by a suspected measles outbreak at the 25,000-capacity Kobe camp.
Measles is being blamed for 11 deaths, with 150 suspected cases recorded across the complex's four sites.
The agency said it has completed a mass vaccination campaign for children aged six months to 15 at Kobe and will now continue the programme at the other sites.
Most of the refugees have fled conflict and famine in rural parts of Somalia.
Some 12 million people across East Africa have been affected by the region's worst drought for 60 years.