Child Hunger Crisis Worse Than Ever, Says Save the Children, As October 16 “World Food Day” Approaches

For immediate release
Wednesday 14 October

Although food prices have dropped from last year’s record highs, fallout from the financial crisis is driving an increasing number of children into hunger, says Save the Children.

“We’re not seeing the number of food price protests we saw last year, but a deceptive calm masks the fact that more children than ever are confronting chronic hunger and severe malnutrition,” said Philip Abraham, Acting Executive Director of Save the Children New Zealand.

Save the Children is addressing increased cases of chronic and severe malnutrition around the world, while working to strengthen parents’ long-term ability to support families. For the first time, more than 1 billion people are chronically hungry, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Although wealthy nations see signs of economic recovery, many low-income countries don’t, with food prices still historically high and the economic crisis stifling investment and remittances. The World Bank estimates 89 million more people will fall into extreme poverty by the end of 2010. Severe weather patterns are also destroying families’ crops and forcing them to sell assets.

When children, especially those under 2, don’t get the nutrients they need, they may suffer permanent damage to physical and intellectual growth. Malnutrition is also the underlying cause of 3 million child deaths each year. The lost potential of the next generation undermines economic development in the countries that need it most.

World Food Day comes one week after Save the Children launched its global campaign EVERY ONE to reduce the high statistics of children dying from preventable diseases. Currently, Save the Children estimates that close to 9 million children under the age of 5 are dying from easily preventable and treatable diseases. That’s one child dying every 3 seconds. 90% of child deaths are caused by malaria, diarrhoea, pneumonia, measles and inadequate maternal healthcare.

Save the Children’s EVERY ONE campaign goal is to ensure that Millennium Development Goal 4 is achieved. This means that child mortality is reduced by two thirds by 2015, from 1990 levels. By 2015 that would mean 5 million children’s lives will be saved each year.

For more information on the campaign please go to: www.savethechildren.net/every_one

ENDS

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