Food shortages have stunted 178m children under-five, report says | Global development | guardian.co.uk
►http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/sep/22/world-disaster-report-food-shortages?intcmp=122
Every year about 3 million children die before they reach the age of five as a result of undernutrition, with the majority of deaths the result of long-term chronic hunger rather than famines and sudden food crises, according to a report published on Thursday.
The World Disasters Report, published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, says 178 million children under the age of five have stunted growth as a result of a lack of food.
The annual report, which this year focuses on hunger and malnutrition, says the rise in basic food prices, the impact of changing climate and an increasing population have pushed the number of people who are undernourished to at least 1 billion. Of these, around 60% are women. When food is scarce it is often women who receive less or give their share to their children.