Millions of Children Die from Malnutrition-Related Diseases

Thirty years after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, millions of children still suffer from food shortage or malnutrition. An estimated 56 million children may lose their lives by 2030 due to hunger or diseases caused by malnutrition.

Food deficiency, lack of healthcare, and crises are all factors that increase child mortality. It is possible that nearly 56 million children will die within the next 11 years, by 2030.

This is a report published by the German government at the request of the country’s Green Party. According to the report, 150 million children worldwide suffer from chronic hunger, with 50 million of them experiencing severe hunger. The report includes crisis-affected and war-torn areas. Two-thirds of children worldwide become victims of various crises and violence.

The aforementioned figures are based on data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

One quarter of child deaths is also caused by pollution and environmental degradation. Half a billion children live in areas exposed to severe storms and floods. 115 million of them live in areas at risk of tropical storms, and 116 million children live in areas suffering from chronic drought.

In 2017, Germany paid 572 million euros to international organizations to improve health conditions for children and mothers. Nevertheless, the Green Party criticizes the German government, arguing that it would be better to refrain from selling billions of euros worth of military equipment to war zones, as this would be a more effective way to save the lives of millions of children.

Source: DW