The rate of malnutrition in Aweil State is alarming, the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, has said.

It says many children and mothers are currently being treated for malnourishment in some of its clinics across Aweil State.

UNICEF’s spokesperson Tim Erwin visited some of the agency’s health facilities there early this week.

“I visited some of the clinics where we are treating children and mothers and you see many children who are exhausted, but they are given food with high energy and calories,” Mr Erwin told Eye Radio.

Between January and June this year, it “treated 34,000 children for malnutrition” in the area.

“And we have a target of up to around 62,000. It is really quite alarming rate of malnutrition in Aweil. The need is tremendous,” he added.

Mr Erwin says clinics where malnourished children are being treated, open twice a week.