Colombia reports that there is an increase in the mortality rate in children under 5-years old due to malnutrition.

The northern province of La Guajira in the country has experienced a sharp increase of children dying from nutrition-related issues. Fox News Latino reports that children under the age of 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition and the mortality rates from 2011 to 2015 have increased by 50 percent or 20 to 30 children per 100,000.

According to Colombian Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria, the acute malnutrition issue among kids has slowly been getting worse over the years. The Health Ministry informed that there were 23 cases of deaths in La Guajira caused by it in 2011. In 2013, there were 40 cases and in 2015, the preliminary count is 38 deaths.

Housing Minister Luis Felipe Henao states that they have been focused in bringing clean water in the area. He explains that, in 2018, 60 to 90 percent of La Guajira's urban areas will have access to clean water. The government has reportedly spent around $52 million for clean water and other projects since 2014.

"For every 20 people living in the urban zone, nine are coming to have potable water. Before, only six had it," he explained.

In an older report by Colombia Reports, the child mortality rate of the country has been likened to some of Africa's regions. Specific poverty-stricken areas in the country have three times the mortality rate when compared to Bogota, wherein 12 out of 1000 children under a year old die. Most children who die in rural areas of the country die from preventable causes.

"In Colombia there are departments and municipalities that have a child mortality rate that is much higher than the national average, with levels similar of countries with a lot less development," said Lenis Urquijo, director of Colombia's Public Health department.

Earlier this month, 37 Colombian children died in Bogota in what is suspected as mercury poisoning. According to News 24, the highly toxic mercury must have seeped into water or food sources because it is used in illegal mining. It is reported that another 64 people are suspected to be suffering from mercury poisoning as well.

Illegal mining activities were detected in the northwestern part of the country called Choco. It is near the jungle and is made up of indigenous Afro-Colombian communities.

According to the report, the deaths and illnesses indirectly caused by illegal mining dates back to 2013 to 2014. The Colombian constitutional court called for an investigation regarding the effects of mining and logging in Quibdo, Atrato River valley and other affected places.