The toll of children dying of malnutrition in Sindh’s Tharparkar region continues to rise, as four more children passed away reportedly passed away on Friday. The latest deaths have taken the death toll in Tharparkar to 13 for this month and 432 for this year overall. In August, a total of 40 minors had succumbed to malnutrition in the area. According to the health department, every year 1,500 children die due to malnutrition, infections and lack of proper medical facilities in the remote region. A report released by the United Nation’s Children Fund in April stated that Pakistan is among countries with the highest infant mortality rates, with 22 infants dying before turning one month old. Among these countries, eight are in Africa and two in Asia, including Afghanistan which is ranked third. “Pakistan is the riskiest place to be born as measured by its newborn mortality rate,” the report stated. “A baby born in Pakistan is almost 50 times more likely to die during his or her first month than a baby born in Japan, Iceland and Singapore.” Published in Daily Times, September 8th 2018.