Malnutrition and epidemics continue to claim more lives as five more children expired during 24 hours, the health department said on Sunday. According to details, five children including an aged four-month, 12-day, one day and two newborns expired at Mithi Hospital, Tharparkar while a dozen others affected of malnutrition and epidemics were still under treatment. The latest deaths have taken the death toll in Tharparkar in April to 70 and 270 in the ongoing year. 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. Earlier, a report released by the United Nation’s Children Fund in April 2018 stated that Pakistan is among countries with the highest infant mortality rate, with 22 infants dying before turning one-month-old.