UN Launches Regional Framework to Combat Malnutrition from Cairo

On Monday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Program, and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Regional Cooperation Framework to tackle malnutrition in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean regions.

Attending the launch ceremony were ministers of health, agriculture, education, and social solidarity, as well as regional representatives and Egypt’s representatives for several international and security organizations. The event served as a platform for dialogue about the progress made in creating a favorable environment for nutrition, the anticipated role of UN agencies in supporting the countries' food needs, and future endeavors.

According to UNICEF's 2023 report, approximately 6.9 million teenagers, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers suffer from acute malnutrition in 12 countries. These groups are facing the worst food crisis since 2020, exacerbated by the Ukraine war, ongoing droughts, conflicts, and political instability in some countries.

The World Health Organization has also indicated that nearly 45% of all deaths among children under the age of five are linked to malnutrition. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. At the same time, there is a rising trend in overweight and obesity rates among children in these countries.