Climate change leaves a “dire situation” for 45 million African children

Climate change leaves a “dire situation” for 45 million African children

The United Nations Children's Fund says there is a "dire situation" in many countries in eastern and southern Africa, where at least 45 million children suffer from acute food insecurity exacerbated by climate change.

Millions of people are living through multiple and often overlapping crises exacerbated by the 2023-2024 El Niño climate phenomenon, one of the strongest on record, Eva Kadili, UNICEF Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, said in a statement.

Christiane Ruddert, UNICEF nutrition advisor for eastern and southern Africa, told Voice of America that many countries in her region have very high rates of child stunting or severe malnutrition.

She said the rates are getting worse due to extreme weather patterns, such as prolonged heatwaves and droughts linked to climate change.