Every fourth child in the world suffers from the situation severe child food povertyThat is, they only have daily two of the eight foods considered essential for a healthy lifeaccording to the report UNICEF published this Thursday.

These data indicate that about 181 million children Children under 5 years of age worldwide suffer from this type of poverty, which increases for these children to 50% chance of getting hurt “exhaustion“, a form of malnutrition that puts their lives at risk.

The report examines the consequences and causes of food deprivation among the world’s youngest people, almost 100 countries and across all income groups.

Warns that millions of children children under five years old are not allowed accessing or consuming a nutritious diet and varied to support optimal growth and development in early childhood and later stages.

Four out of five children in this situation are fed only breast milk/milk and/or starchy staple foods such as rice, corn or wheat.

less than 10% of these minors are accepted fruits And vegetables And less than 5% eat nutrient-rich foods such as eggs, fish, birds or meat.

“Children living in severe food poverty are children who they live on the edge of an abyss. This is the reality for millions of children right now, and it can have an irreversible negative impact on their survival, growth and brain development,” said the UNICEF Executive Director. Katherine Russell.

The report warns that while countries are still recovering from the fallout COVID-19 pandemicconsequences of growing inequality, conflict and climate crisis they raised prices belonging food And the cost of living at a record level.

Of the 181 million children living in extreme food poverty, 65% live in just 20 countries. About 64 million affected children are in South Asia and 59 million in Sub-Saharan– the message says.

When Latin America and the Caribbean 9% minors suffers from extreme poverty (5 million people in total) and 28 percent from moderate poverty (18 million).

UNICEF gives as an example Somaliawhere is he 63% children are at risk or Gaza Stripin the midst of a war where figures show one in nine minors are suffering. acute food poverty.

For the UN agency, these data are proof terrible impact what he conflict And restrictions impact on the ability of families to meet the food needs of children in the Gaza Strip.

The report notes that almost half (46%) of all cases Severe shortages of baby food occur in poor households where income poverty is likely to be important factor.

But 54% (97 million children) of those affected live in relatively wealthier families, where environment And poor feeding practices Are main reasons poverty in early childhood.

However, the report notes that some progress has been made in this area.

For example, Burkina Faso Ha Severe child food poverty rate halvedfrom 67% (2010) to 32% (2021), and Nepal reduced it from 20% (2011) to 8% (2022).