A campaign to screen more than 250, 000 children for acute malnutrition in Warrap State has been launched.

The UN Children’s Agency and the World Food Program, which are carrying out the exercise, say 26, 000 children are already suffering from acute malnutrition.

They say inadequate feeding, poor maternal and child feeding practices, illnesses and limited availability of health and nutrition services have caused the malnutrition.

In a joint statement, the agencies say 240 volunteers will go door to door, screening children until the end of this year.

“Visiting every single home will help ensure that children who are malnourished or sick will be referred for treatment and will receive life-saving care,” said Vilma Tyler, Chief of Nutrition for UNICEF in South Sudan in the statement.

They say children who are screened positive with cases of malnutrition will immediately be referred to health facilities.

UNICEF says some 100,000 children under 5 years have been treated with its support, this year alone.