The UN Children's Agency (UNICEF) says that many children in Unity State are 'severely malnourished' following widespread attacks and clashes in the state.

Radio Tamazuj previously reported that government forces since late April launched an offensive from the state capital Bentiu southward into rebel-held parts of the state, later joined by additional forces attacking northward from Lakes State.

The United Nations says that more than 100,000 people in the state have been displaced by the latest violence.

In a statement today, UNICEF said the child malnutrition rates remain above the emergency threshold of 15 percent in conflict-affected states.

“Nearly one in three children under five are malnourished in the worst-hit areas of Greater Upper Nile, Warrup and Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Very high rates of severe acute malnutrition (up to 10 per cent) have been observed in Unity State in recent UNICEF surveys.”

UNICEF said that if these children are not reached with treatment, they are nine times more likely to die than a healthy child.

File photo: A malnourished child in Jonglei, South Sudan (WFP)