UN: One-fourth of World's Youngest Children Lack Food
2024-06-10
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1A recent report from the U.N. children's agency UNICEF says that 181 million children younger than 5 live in severe food poverty.
2That is more than one-fourth of the world's youngest children.
3The report centered on nearly 100 low- and middle-income countries.
4The report defines severe food poverty as eating nothing in a day or, at best, two out of eight food groups the agency recognizes.
5Africa's population of more than 1.3 billion people is one of the most affected mainly due to conflict, climate crises and rising food prices.
6The continent accounts for one-third of those facing hunger and 13 of the 20 most affected countries.
7But the report noted some progress.
8The percentage of children living in severe food poverty in West and Central Africa fell from 42 percent to 32 percent over the last ten years, it said.
9The report noted developments including diversified crops and performance-based rewards for health workers.
10Without important nutrients, children living with "extremely poor" diets are more likely to experience wasting.
11Wasting is a life-threatening form of malnutrition, UNICEF said.
12Harriet Torlesse is one of the report's writers.
13She told The Associated Press, "When wasting becomes very severe, they are 12 times more likely to die."
14In several Nigerian communities, UNICEF is training thousands of women in how to increase their families' nutrient intake with cassava, sweet potato, maize and vegetables grown in gardens at home.
15The agency is also helping train them in raising livestock and chickens.
16Several women recently gathered in a Kaltungo village to learn how to prepare those foods.
17Even without rain, they can be grown in sand-filled containers that require little water.
18Mothers in Nigeria also face the country's worst cost of living crisis.
19Growing food at home saves money.
20Aisha Aliyu is a 36-year-old mother of five.
21She said her youngest child "used to be skinny but is growing fatter" because of what they now grow at home.
22Kaltungo is a semi-arid area where climate change has limited rainfall in recent years.
23Some children have died of malnutrition in the past because there is little food, said Ladi Abdullahi. She helps train the women.
24The Sahel of the Sahara Desert is another arid area that experiences violent extremism.
25Malnutrition in the Sahel has reached emergency levels, said Alfred Ejem.
26He is a food security advisor with the Mercy Corps aid group in Africa.
27Ejem added that families have been forced to eat leaves and insects to survive because of displacement and climate change.
28In Nigeria's troubled northwest area, the French medical organization Doctors Without Borders said at least 850 children died last year within 24 to 48 hours of being admitted to its health facilities.
29Many malnourished children in the area never make it to a hospital because they live in rural areas or their families cannot pay for care.
30Inequality also plays a part in severe food poverty among children in Africa, the new report said.
31South Africa is the most unequal country in the world.
32And about one in every four children is affected by severe food poverty even though it is the continent's most developed nation.
33Governments and partners must act urgently, Torlesse said.
34"The work starts now."
35I'm Dan Novak.
1A recent report from the U.N. children's agency UNICEF says that 181 million children younger than 5 live in severe food poverty. That is more than one-fourth of the world's youngest children. 2The report centered on nearly 100 low- and middle-income countries. The report defines severe food poverty as eating nothing in a day or, at best, two out of eight food groups the agency recognizes. 3Africa's population of more than 1.3 billion people is one of the most affected mainly due to conflict, climate crises and rising food prices. The continent accounts for one-third of those facing hunger and 13 of the 20 most affected countries. 4But the report noted some progress. 5The percentage of children living in severe food poverty in West and Central Africa fell from 42 percent to 32 percent over the last ten years, it said. The report noted developments including diversified crops and performance-based rewards for health workers. 6Without important nutrients, children living with "extremely poor" diets are more likely to experience wasting. Wasting is a life-threatening form of malnutrition, UNICEF said. 7Harriet Torlesse is one of the report's writers. She told The Associated Press, "When wasting becomes very severe, they are 12 times more likely to die." 8In Nigeria 9In several Nigerian communities, UNICEF is training thousands of women in how to increase their families' nutrient intake with cassava, sweet potato, maize and vegetables grown in gardens at home. The agency is also helping train them in raising livestock and chickens. 10Several women recently gathered in a Kaltungo village to learn how to prepare those foods. Even without rain, they can be grown in sand-filled containers that require little water. 11Mothers in Nigeria also face the country's worst cost of living crisis. Growing food at home saves money. 12Aisha Aliyu is a 36-year-old mother of five. She said her youngest child "used to be skinny but is growing fatter" because of what they now grow at home. 13Kaltungo is a semi-arid area where climate change has limited rainfall in recent years. Some children have died of malnutrition in the past because there is little food, said Ladi Abdullahi. She helps train the women. 14The Sahel of the Sahara Desert is another arid area that experiences violent extremism. Malnutrition in the Sahel has reached emergency levels, said Alfred Ejem. He is a food security advisor with the Mercy Corps aid group in Africa. 15Ejem added that families have been forced to eat leaves and insects to survive because of displacement and climate change. 16In Nigeria's troubled northwest area, the French medical organization Doctors Without Borders said at least 850 children died last year within 24 to 48 hours of being admitted to its health facilities. 17Many malnourished children in the area never make it to a hospital because they live in rural areas or their families cannot pay for care. 18Inequality also plays a part in severe food poverty among children in Africa, the new report said. South Africa is the most unequal country in the world. And about one in every four children is affected by severe food poverty even though it is the continent's most developed nation. 19Governments and partners must act urgently, Torlesse said. "The work starts now." 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 22____________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24income - n. money that is earned from work, investments, business, etc. 25diversify - v. to change so that it has more different kinds of people or things 26arid - adj. very dry