A dire warning has been issued by the United Nations over a deepening malnutrition crisis gripping the Middle East and North Africa region.
The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, revealed on Monday that a staggering one in three children, or approximately 77 million, are suffering from some form of malnutrition.
Of this alarming figure, 55 million children across the 20 countries assessed are grappling with overweight or obesity, a condition UNICEF classifies as a type of malnutrition.
Equally concerning is the plight of 24 million children who are undernourished, exhibiting symptoms such as stunting, wasting, and thinness.
UNICEF attributed this crisis to a complex interplay of factors, including dietary imbalances, limited access to nutritious food and clean water, inadequate healthcare, and the prevalence of unhealthy processed foods high in salt, sugar, and fat.
These challenges are exacerbated by ongoing conflicts, political instability, climate shocks, and soaring food prices, collectively hindering children’s right to nutritious food and restricting humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities.
Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director, expressed deep concern over the alarmingly low rate of nutritious food consumption among young children, stating that only one-third are receiving adequate nourishment.
“This is a shocking statistic in 2024 and risks becoming even worse as conflicts, crises, and other challenges in our region persist,” Khodr emphasized.
In response to this crisis, UNICEF is urging governments to prioritize nutrition in their planning and policymaking.
This call comes as UN agencies reported last month that global efforts to reduce hunger have been impeded by conflict, economic instability, and climate change, affecting approximately nine percent of the world’s population.
The situation is dire, with 733 million people experiencing hunger in 2023, and a staggering 2.33 billion facing moderate or severe food insecurity.