77 Million Children in Middle East Suffer from Malnutrition

UNICEF has issued a grave warning regarding the state of child nutrition in the Middle East and North Africa.

As of Monday, the organization reported that at least 77 million children and adolescents in the region are suffering from some form of malnutrition due to ongoing crises, describing the situation as "shocking."

According to UNICEF, this figure represents one in three children in the region. Of these, 55 million are struggling with overweight or obesity, with these issues particularly prevalent among school-aged children across all 20 countries in the region.

Additionally, one in three school-aged children is affected by overweight and obesity, while another 24 million children face malnutrition-related issues, including stunting and wasting.

Despite progress in reducing stunting over the past two decades, the problem remains widespread, impacting 10 million children under five years old.

The organization highlights that malnutrition in the Middle East and North Africa is a significant challenge, exacerbated by ongoing crises, political instability, climate shocks, and rising food prices.

UNICEF emphasizes that the varied contexts of malnutrition—from hunger and wasting in Sudan and Yemen to stunting and overweight in Egypt and Libya—require tailored responses that address the specific forms and underlying causes of malnutrition in each context.

Adeel Khadr, UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, pointed out that only one-third of young children receive the nutritious food necessary for their growth and development.

This statistic is alarming for 2024 and could worsen with the persistence of conflicts and other challenges in the region.

UNICEF urges regional governments to prioritize nutrition in their development plans, policies, and budgets.

Last month, UN agencies reported that conflicts, economic disruptions, and climate issues hindered efforts to reduce global hunger, affecting approximately 9% of the world's population.

In 2023, an estimated 733 million people experienced hunger, which has remained constant for three years following a sharp increase after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, 2.33 billion people, nearly 29% of the global population, faced moderate or severe food insecurity, often forcing them to skip meals.