A rapid appraisal of the nutritional status of Irian Jaya refugees and Papua New Guineans undergoing severe food shortage in the North Fly region.

A survey of nutritional status of recent border crossers from Irian Jaya undergoing severe food shortages was carried out. The two camps visited were those considered to have the most serious problems at the height of the crisis. Komopkin Camp had the highest levels of malnutrition in all age groups and in all categories, including 52% of children aged 1 to 5 years with signs of kwashiorkor. No kwashiorkor, however, was found in the other camp. Papua New Guinea villagers living alongside the refugees in Komopkin were also suffering from malnutrition, though of lesser severity and shorter duration.