(13 Aug 2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – A new UNICEF report has revealed that approximately 63% of children in Somalia, or two out of three, have experienced severe food poverty in their early childhood, making them up to 50% more likely to suffer from wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. The report, titled Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood, ranks Somalia among the 20 countries that account for two-thirds of the global total of children living in severe food poverty.
The report highlights that many young children in Somalia consume, at most, only two of eight essential food groups, with the majority relying on breastmilk, milk, or starchy staples like rice or maize. Worryingly, only 1 in 5 children aged 6-23 months in Somalia are fed nutrient-dense foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, or meat, while two-thirds do not consume any vegetables or fruits. UNICEF Representative Wafaa Saeed emphasised the need for urgent action to improve food systems and access to nutritious foods in Somalia to combat this severe form of malnutrition.
UNICEF is calling on governments, donors, and partners to support the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a financing mechanism launched last year to combat child malnutrition globally, including in Somalia. The organisation urged immediate steps to transform food systems, enhance nutrition services, and strengthen social protection systems to address the root causes of child food poverty and ensure that all children have access to nutritious and diverse diets.
Halqabsi News
