Hunger, Malnutrition Rise in Western Chad

"Mariana Merelo Lobo, Director of Operations for Action Against Hunger tells VOA, the issue is growing worse. 'In the previous fifteen years we would have acute malnutrition rates of around 20 percent and at the end of last year we found almost 27 percent of acute malnutrition [in children under the age of five] which is very, very, very high,' she said. The humanitarian organization is launching a year-long emergency operation in the region that includes setting up local health centers and promoting community programs."