By Lateef Odegbenle
Save the Children International (SCI) has raised alarm over the inability of about 1.12 billion children—48% of the global child population—to afford a balanced diet. This revelation comes as the organization releases new data on the eve of the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris.
The aid agency attributed this crisis to rising food prices and the increasing cost of living worldwide, which have forced many families to consume less diverse and less nutritious meals, thereby endangering children’s development and well-being.
According to SCI, nearly half of the children analyzed across 167 countries live in households that cannot afford a balanced diet, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The situation is particularly severe in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where two out of every three children lack access to proper nutrition.
Hannah Stephenson, Save the Children’s Global Nutrition Lead, emphasized the urgency of the issue at the Paris summit:
“The N4G Summit is a critical opportunity for the international community to drive progress against malnutrition and place nutrition at the center of the sustainable development agenda. In a world where aid cuts are becoming the norm, this is more crucial than ever.
“Healthy diets play a vital role in preventing malnutrition, which can have lifelong consequences for children. However, nutritious meals are often less affordable than unhealthy alternatives. Today, nearly half of the world’s children cannot afford a balanced diet.
“There is an urgent need for collective action to address malnutrition in all its forms. The health and well-being of millions of children depend on our sustained efforts.”
SCI is calling on global leaders at the N4G Summit to take decisive action, including:
Strengthening the transition towards sustainable food systems
Promoting equitable access to nutritious diets
Enhancing health systems to make them more resilient and expanding universal health coverage
Strengthening social protection systems to ensure no child is left behind
Empowering women and placing them at the heart of nutrition initiatives
With malnutrition posing a growing threat, SCI urges world leaders to act swiftly to secure a healthier future for children worldwide.
