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1. Unicef India child poverty
2. Severe child food poverty in India
3. India child hunger crisis
Unicef: India among 20 nations with ‘severe child food poverty’ | India News
Unicef’s new metric on ‘child food poverty’ reveals the extent of the food and nutrition crisis affecting children under 5 globally, with India, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan among the top countries with 65% of the 181 million children living in “severe child food poverty”. The report highlights that 27% of children worldwide are surviving on poor diets, with India at 40%. Severe child food poverty is attributed to poor food environments, feeding practices, and household income poverty. The study emphasizes the impact on child undernutrition and the long-term consequences on education and earning potential. The need for diverse and nutritious diets is crucial for healthy development.
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Child Food Poverty: A Global Crisis
Unicef’s latest metric on ‘child food poverty’ has shed light on the alarming food and nutrition crisis faced by children under 5 years of age worldwide. The report reveals that 181 million children globally are living in “severe child food poverty”, with India, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan among the top 20 countries with the highest number of children in this category.
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According to the report, 1 in 4 children globally are surviving on extremely poor diets, with 27% of children falling into the severe category. The percentage of children living in severe child food poverty varies across countries, ranging from 1% in Belarus to 63% in Somalia. In India, the percentage stands at 40%, categorised as ‘high’.
Child food poverty is defined by Unicef as children’s inability to access and consume a nutritious and diverse diet in the first 5 years of life. This crisis is driven by poor food environments, inadequate feeding practices, and household income poverty that affect children and their families, regardless of economic status.
The report warns that severe child food poverty contributes to child undernutrition, with countries having a high prevalence of stunting seeing three times higher rates of children living in severe child food poverty. In India, the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) data reveals concerning levels of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under 5, despite some improvements from the previous survey.
Children deprived of proper nutrition in early childhood are at risk of poor academic performance and lower earning potential in adulthood, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and deprivation. The report underscores the importance of addressing child food poverty to break this cycle and ensure the well-being of future generations.
The measurement of child food poverty in the report is based on the Unicef and WHO dietary diversity score, which highlights the importance of consuming foods from at least five out of the eight defined food groups for healthy development. These food groups include breastmilk, dairy, pulses, grains, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, and vitamin A-rich fruits, among others.
It is alarming to note that two-thirds of children under 5 globally are living in child food poverty, with an estimated 440 million children unable to access nutritious and diverse diets. Children who are fed fewer than two food groups a day are considered to be in severe child food poverty, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support.
In conclusion, the findings of Unicef’s global ‘Child Nutrition Report 2024’ underscore the critical need to address child food poverty as a pressing global crisis. By investing in nutrition interventions and policies that promote access to healthy and diverse diets for children, we can ensure a brighter and healthier future for generations to come.
