South African paediatricians are seeing signs that food aid is making a difference to the children living in camps in Mogadishu.
(Photo: Gallo Images)
The medical specialists are part of a team of doctors, surgeons and nutritionists in the Somali capital as part of a humanitarian mission.
A two decade civil war coupled with crippling famine has pushed thousands of Somalis to the brink of starvation.
This week the team has seen thousands of children who are malnourished and haven't ever had medical care.
Newswatch's Thrishni Subramoney is with them at Forlanini Hospital in the north of the capital.
She reports that babies have been snatched from the brink of severe dehydration all week by South African doctors, but the past two days has seen the death of two children in the facility.
On Sunday a seven-year-old succumbed to dehydration, despite repeated efforts to revive him.
On Monday a four-month-old who had gone five days without milk passed away.
However, many more children has been saved and doctors say this is thanks to relief aid coming in from all over the world, including South Africa.
Many of the children they are seeing have measles, chronic diarrhoea and their growth is stunted, but those from camps where aid is given are able to respond to treatment.
The Gift of the Givers flew in 35 tons of food and medical aid this week and two ships carrying more supplies are expected to arrive in Mogadishu in the next few days.
Source: The East Coast Radio - Durban's No. 1
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