U.N. issues appeal for air cargo space, warns about rising child mortality among Somalis in Kenya

UNICEF on Tuesday "appeal[ed] to the air transport sector to provide free and discounted cargo space to bring emergency food supplies into the region," the U.N. News Centre reports (8/2). UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, warned in its latest situation report that "[c]hild mortality rates among Somali refugees in Kenya are on the rise and there are 'alarmingly high rates' of malnutrition," according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur/M&C (8/3).

In related news, UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin commented on the crisis in a telephone interview with Reuters. "We need to improve food production ... and to work with member states to ensure women and particularly young girls have access to education, including sexual education, and access to health services and reproductive health services including family planning," he said (John, 8/2).