Malnutrition Crisis Hits 77 Million Children In MENA, UNICEF Finds

UNICEF's recent analysis reveals that at least 77 million children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) suffer from malnutrition. This includes 55 million children who are overweight or obese, a growing issue among school-aged children across all 20 countries in the region.

Additionally, 24 million children in MENA face undernutrition, manifesting as stunting, wasting, and thinness. Despite some progress over the past two decades in reducing stunting rates among children under five, it still affects 10 million young children.

Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director for MENA, highlighted the region's "increasingly complex triple burden of malnutrition." She noted that this issue hampers children's growth and development amid ongoing conflicts, political instability, climatic shocks, and rising food prices. These factors collectively hinder children's access to nutritious food and limit humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities.

The situation is similarly dire for women of child-bearing age in MENA. Around 9 million women are underweight, while an alarming 114 million are overweight or obese. In 17 countries within the region, over 60% of adult women are overweight or obese, surpassing the global average of 45%.

The Regional Strategic Direction for Nutrition in MENA categorises the 20 countries into four clusters. It outlines tailored strategies to tackle nutrition challenges specific to each cluster. Khodr emphasised that addressing malnutrition requires understanding its diverse manifestations across different regions.

"The face of malnutrition looks vastly different across the region," Khodr stated. "We must address the underlying drivers of all forms of malnutrition according to each country’s context." She added that UNICEF aims to strengthen national food systems and ensure quality nutrition services by the end of the decade.

This strategic direction also focuses on making nutritious foods accessible and affordable for every child, regardless of their location or background. The goal is to create sustainable food systems that support children's health and development throughout MENA.

In summary, tackling malnutrition in MENA requires a multifaceted approach tailored to each country's unique challenges. By addressing both undernutrition and obesity through strategic initiatives, UNICEF aims to improve children's health outcomes across the region.

With inputs from WAM