Aboriginal children 'starving', welfare workers say

Welfare workers in Australia's Northern Territory have told an official inquiry that children are starving in some remote Aboriginal communities.

The abuse of alcohol and drugs by parents is often blamed for malnutrition in the young

The disturbing new allegations of neglect have been presented to government-appointed investigators.Child protection teams believe that a Red Cross-type programme is needed to help vulnerable indigenous youngsters.They say that malnourishment is so bad that the emergency intervention of international aid agencies is needed.In a submission to a government-sponsored inquiry in Darwin, welfare teams say that children are starving in remote areas and accuse the authorities of not taking the problem seriously.

Rare but significant

Ministers have not commented on the allegations.The Australian Medical Association says that malnutrition makes children far less resistant to disease and can cause intellectual disabilities. Dr Robert Parker, the association's vice-president in the Northern Territory, believes that while starvation in indigenous communities is "reasonably rare", it remains a significant challenge.