1 in 4 children under 5 faces ‘severe’ food poverty: UNICEF
This means that more than 180 million young children are at risk of notable setbacks in their growth and development due to inadequate nutrition.
Global Child Poverty Crisis Unveiled
UNICEF has reported a distressing reality for over one in four children under the age of five worldwide, facing what is termed as “severe” food poverty. This means that more than 180 million young children are at risk of notable setbacks in their growth and development due to inadequate nutrition.
Harriet Torlesse, a lead author of a new UNICEF report, painted a concerning picture stating, “Severe child food poverty describes children who are surviving on severely deprived diets so they’re only consuming two or less food groups. It is shocking in this day and age where we know what needs to be done.”
UNICEF’s guidelines suggest young children consume foods from five out of eight main groups daily, including breast milk, grains, pulses, dairy, meats, eggs, and various fruits and vegetables. Yet
, the reality for 440 million children in around 100 low- and middle-income countries is starkly different—they lack access to these essential food groups.
Of these, 181 million are facing severe food poverty, surviving on at most two food groups. “Children who consume just two food groups per day — for example, rice and some milk — are up to 50 percent more likely to experience severe forms of malnutrition,” underscored UNICEF chief Catherine Russell.
The consequences of malnutrition extend beyond immediate health risks, impacting children’s long-term prospects, including educational attainment, and earning potential as adults. Torlesse emphasized the critical role of nutrition in early development: “If you think of what a brain looks like and the heart and the immune system, all these important systems of the body that are so important for development, for protection against disease—they all depend on vitamins and minerals and protein.”
Severe child food poverty is particularly concentrated in about 20 countries, with Somalia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Afghanistan showing dire situations. Even in wealthier nations, children in low-income households face significant nutritional gaps.
In the Gaza Strip, ongoing hostilities have escalated an already precarious situation, with data indicating a drastic increase in severe child food poverty. Globally, progress in addressing this crisis has been slow over the past decade.
UNICEF is calling for urgent action, advocating for enhanced social services, humanitarian aid, and a reevaluation of global food systems. Torlesse highlighted the adverse effects of aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods: “These foods are cheap but they’re also very high in calories. They’re high-energy, high salt, and high fat. So, they’ll fill stomachs and they’ll remove hunger, but they won’t provide the vitamins and minerals that children need.”
Despite the challenges, there have been successes in reducing child food poverty in certain countries through targeted interventions. UNICEF urges governments, organizations, and the food industry to prioritize transformative measures to ensure nutritious foods are accessible and affordable for all children.
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