Nearly One Million Children Under 5 in Central Sahel Facing Severe Wasting in 2023, UNICEF Warns

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned Friday that about a million children under five will be at risk in 2023 of acute malnutrition in Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, countries in the Sahel region facing armed attacks.

“An estimated 970,000 children under 5 from West Africa’s three central Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) will face severe wasting this year as families deal with high food prices, conflict and climate change,” UNICEF said in a statement.

“Niger faces the highest severe wasting burden in the central Sahel, with a forecast of 430,000 children this year.” “This forecast is 60,000 fewer than in 2022 thanks to a strong response in Niger by the government, UNICEF and partners. In Mali, severe wasting is forecast to rise by 18.4 per cent to 367,000 girls and boys, up from last year’s 309,000,” the statement added.

“Every child should receive a nutritious diet,” said UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Marie-Pierre Poirier.

“Ensuring good nutrition during childhood is a key pillar of long-term prosperity. We have a collective responsibility to put children’s needs of good nutrition at the heart of our food, health and social protection systems.” “Growing insecurity and conflict means vulnerability is increasing in the region, and it is getting harder to help communities in isolated areas. We are supporting governments to strengthen health systems at the facility and community level to successfully detect and treat malnutrition, while putting the focus on prevention.”

Source: Qatar News Agency

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