ISLAMABAD: At least 62 kids have died in a district of southern Pakistan where thousands are suffering from malnutrition, officials said Monday, as the country’s top judge called the situation a national shame.

The disaster has sparked public outcry and diverted media attention away from the regular glut of militant attacks, with both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto’s heir Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari visiting the afflicted region.

Local authorities last week ordered a probe into the deaths, which occurred in a stretch of the Thar desert, which begins around 300 kilometers from Karachi and runs up to the border with India.

Hazem El Mahi, a UNOCHA spokesman, said it was too early to say exactly what was causing the spike in child mortality, but that it was a combination of infections and maternal and child malnutrition.

“We are not aware of adult deaths so far,” he said adding, “We have started a joint assessment with the Pakistan government only today and we can’t know the real situation on the ground until the assessment is complete.”

Pakistani media said the kids were dying due to drought-related malnutrition. No figures for deaths in March have been released.

Local media have said relief goods were not reaching the affected area promptly. One report said 60,000 sacks of flour had been dispatched to Sindh but only 900 had been distributed.

“Sharif directed to ensure swift provision of edible commodities, drinking water and medicine to the people,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement. It said Sharif had also ordered strict action against those responsible for “negligence” in distributing wheat in Tharparkar.

NDMA director Raza Iqbal attributed the distribution problems to delays in paying transport companies.

“There are administration issues,” he said, but gave no details. Provincial authorities, relief groups and political parties have sent food, medicine and other items to the drought-hit areas.