Thirty-four children under the age five died of malnutrition in the first week of September in Bentiu, Unity State, the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary General has said.

Stephane Dujarric says water and sanitation organizations are stepping up activities to address malnutrition and child mortality in South Sudan.

The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and the World Food Program recently launched a joint nutrition scale-up plan.

It will see the agencies and their partners assist over 2 million women and children, for the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition until May of next year.