Discusses the significant prevalence of nutritional deficits found in Bhutanese children living in the Nepali refugee camps and offers recommendations to improve the situation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) directed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) to further evaluate the poor nutritional status of the Bhutanese refugee children in seven Nepali camps since acute malnutrition (wasting) and chronic malnutrition (stunted growth) were noted during annual health surveys. Weight and height measurements recorded for 497 children and their 413 mothers revealed a significant number of cases of acute and chronic malnutrition, nearly 45 percent had anemia and a high incidence of diarrhea and acute respiratory illness (ARI). Recommendations include: increasing iron supplements for children under age 2; expanded education for mothers on recommended feeding practices especially in relation to breastfeeding and the introduction of complimentary foods; and further investigation to identify the source of diarrhea and ARI.
