Nutritional State of Children in Jalalaksi Refugee Camps, Somalia

Abstract Migration of whole populations, driven by natural calamities or war in search for safe territory, has come to the attention of International Organizations. The sanitary situation of refugee camps in Somalia which take care of the nomad populations arriving from the contested Ogaden territory, has been studied in Nov.-Dec. 1980 at the refugee camp of 3alalaksi. A study of the environment and organization of the camp was made to examine housing, water supply, sewage and alimentation. The nutritional state of refugees was recorded. The anthropometric data of 1185 children, including weight, height and arm circumference according to age and sex have provided interesting comparisons.