South Asia

CHILDREN STUNTED IN SRI LANKA: The infant mortality rate (IMR) of Sri Lanka, as per the latest demographic and health survey
2006-2007, is 15 per 1,000 live births. The IMR was 12 per 1,000 live births in 2005. In the same year, IMR in India was 56. The survey also shows that 22 per cent of children are underweight, 18 per cent are stunted and 15 per cent show signs of wasting. Authorities fear the figure could be distorted, since the survey left out five districts in northern province--Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts--where fighting is going on with the Tamil tigers. The region remained inaccessible. Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, where conflict continued until 2007, have reported the maximum malnutrition cases.