FAO reports that, in December 1995, the government has increased the wheat flour and vegetable oil rations. The monthly ration for wheat flour has been raised by one kg to seven kg per person, and vegetable oil from 625 grammes to 750 grammes. However, even these increased rations provide less than 50 per cent of the food needs. The most visible signs of widespread poverty are manifested, inter-alia, by increasing cases of malnutrition, high mortality rates among children under five years, proliferation of street vendors and beggars, increased petty theft and crime and the continuation of the brain drain phenomenon. Only emergency surgery is performed, often without anaesthesia.
Hospitals report that malnutrition had become a major contributor to many health problems.
Over 50 percent of the hospitalised children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition. About 70 percent of nursing and pregnant mothers are anaemic. The Ministry of Health reports that between 1991 and 1995 the mortality rate among children under five has risen from 29 to 140 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, successful immunisation programmes have considerably reduced the number of cases of polio, neo-natal tetanus and measles. Untreated sewage effluents contaminate water sources and facilitate the proliferation of parasitic infestations and increased occurrence of water- borne diseases.