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Dublin: 13 °C Tuesday 21 May, 2013

A quarter of the world’s children do not have enough to eat – report

A major survey carried out by the charity Save the Children has highlighted the problem of child malnutrition.

A girl holds a malnourished child outside the Apanalay center that works with malnourished children in Mumbai, India (File photo)
A girl holds a malnourished child outside the Apanalay center that works with malnourished children in Mumbai, India (File photo)
Image: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

A POOR DIET can lead to the death of as many as 2.6 million children every year and stunt the growth of 450 million more according to a new report.

Children’s charity Save the Children has estimated that already one-in-four children in the world are stunted because of malnutrition – not having enough to eat.

The report, entitled ‘A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling child malnutrition’, has been published today.

The international charity says that rising food prices and a lack of political will to take action is having a devastating impact on children who are malnourished in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Peru and India where thousands of families participated in the study.

Eighty per cent of the world’s stunted children live in just four countries, according to the charity.

The survey, carried out by Globescan, found that one parent in six said their child was abandoning their school studies in order work for money to pay for food.

A third of parents surveyed said their children complained about not having enough to eat.  In India, 48 per cent of children are stunted while in Nigeria and Tanzania the problem is escalating, according to the report.

“Families are around the world are really struggling, because of high food prices, to actually feed their children. Their children are going hungry every night and this is a growing problem,” Save the Children CEO Justin Forsyth told BBC News.

He said that a lack of political action combined with a growing demand for food from burgeoning middle classes in some of the countries in question, rising food prices and climate change were all contributing to the problem.

The report goes on to say that around $10 billion (€7.6 billion) a year is needed to help protect 90 per cent of the world’s most vulnerable children from hunger.

It calls for more food supplements, increased awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and improved hygiene as well as better training for health workers and social protection schemes for those effect by malnourishment.

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Comments (26 Comments)

  • Take the next “loan/bailout” we get and send it straight over to these children! Show the world we’re not playing their corporate games anymore. Could you imagine the kick that would give World Inc. A kick that’s badly needed. This is a crazy corrupt world we’re living in.

    We paid €1.25 billion to bondholders last month. If you’re not going to give it to our poor, hospitals, schools, blah blah why don’t you give it to the hungry children. Why not let Irish rich look after Irish poor? There’s plenty money here. They just won’t spend it.

    Set an example to the world how to behave. Things are changing. Be a leader or go home!!!

    Reply
  • i have always wondered how much the rich states in thiscworld contribute..by those i mean the gulf oil states..the russian federation to combating hunger and disease in countries that in.particular Russia in both its guizes has had big arms deals. the rulers of the gulf states are mega rich but if thres a disaster anywhere its always western.ngo’s and military agencies that are seen to help out

    Reply
  • Rèada…
    This is exactly what this is about.
    Sadly you don’t get the message
    China has a population of 1.3 billion people.
    The majority living in extreme poverty.
    If you call this living then I suggest you do your research before voicing your impetuous remarks.

    Reply
    • Just a last remark Rèada.
      Don’t take a swing at me!
      As I indicated. These facts are veritable.
      My opinion does not come into it.

      Reply
    • Michael I know that the majority of Chinese are living in extreme poverty. Could you explain to me how EU and USA et al have the nerve to expect them to help us out of our economic hole? Anytime I see a thread re Chinese investment I want to puke. Keep your money to sort out your own country you dictators dressed up as communists. That’s my answer. Sorry if I sound impetuous. I can’t stomach BS!

      This world is seriously sick Michael and you peddling propaganda is no medicine.

      Reply
  • jimbo 15/02/12 #

    where is geldof and bono now?

    Reply
  • I just know from the outset that I will get a plethora of thumbs down for the following:
    This is not my opinion but a mathematical certainty.
    Our planet earth can only sustain a given amount of human beings.
    The population explosion in the last hundred years is worrying. To say the least.
    As dismal as this might sound.
    But for every child that you support, in for instance east africa. You are guilty of Initiating a sequence of events that contributes to mass overpopulation in the very near future which will inevitably lead to natures revenge. DISEASE, STARVATION AND WATER SHORTAGE.
    Please check out the following website which lets you peruse the birthrate versus deathrate in a live scenario. http://www.worldometers.info/

    Reply
    • What a hero you are Michael risking the red thumbs to tell you right-wing “truth” or should I say propaganda.

      Care to explain then why China, one of the world’s most populated countries, produces more than it can consume??? That kind of BS really pi$$e$ me off.

      Reply
    • I will take this one step further.
      If there was a charity to support male sterilisation in countries where this is deemed appropriate then I would be the first to donate.
      The individual who opts for this method of birth control will be compensated by means of a once off cash incentive.
      When you donate in the hope that your money goes toward a worthy cause…think again. An investigation was undertaken two years ago into the effectiveness of charities.
      The greater part of your donation goes to the charities administration. NOT the cause which you had envisaged.

      Reply
    • Michael. I have to rely on charities to donate to far off countries as I can’t go myself atm. I know that a high percentage goes on administration and corruption. I satisfy this by knowing that a euro to me means less than a cent does to those who receive my aid. Its frustrating I know…

      Reply
    • Ah yeah Michael, it’s all down to over population and nothing to do with distribution of wealth and resources. Let’s sterilise the poor and ease the burden. Things haven’t changed much in a few centuries it would seem. http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html

      Reply
  • When Edwin Starr asked what is war good for, he obviously didn’t consider profit, before declaring absolutely nothing. The money in the arms trade is sickening, and the amounts some countries spend when their population cannot eat is undemocratic.

    http://brianpoltics.wordpress.com

    Reply
  • Rèada…
    Propaganda is the organized spreading of doctrine, true or false information, opinions, etc.
    My posts are based on scientific fact. NOT POLITICAL INCENTIVES.
    Even if it was not scientifically verifiable…basic logic would dictate my posts to be true.
    Why do you mention the EU?
    I am talking long-term consequences in relation to mankinds survival.
    Try a progressive outlook.

    Reply
    • I mention the EU because they have their begging bowl out hoping China will invest their ill-gotten gains and invest in european bonds Michael. Can you not see how immoral that is?

      Propaganda, in this case, is what’s fed to the masses to keep us feeling guilt free so they can carry on propagating their agenda at increasing the divide between rich and poor.

      Reply
  • Your line of thought is short term.
    Maybe I am not getting my point across.

    Reply
  • A quarter of Americans eat waaay too much. Coincidence?

    Reply

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