How are the food shortages impacting children?
Food insecurity has long been an issue, with around 852 million people around the world considered chronically hungry and a further 100 million on the brink because of the current food crisis. (SOURCE: World Food Program) When prices rise families are no longer able to afford food and it is usually children who feel the effects first. Young children are in the midst of a crucial development phase that can affect their future abilities. If a child does not receive enough nutrition and stimulation before the age of one their development can be impaired permanently. Deficiencies in vitamins, protein and micronutrients lead to poor overall health, making the child vulnerable to disease and more likely to die from common childhood illnesses than their well-nourished peers. In addition, a child’s ability to learn is severely hampered affecting their education progress and their social interaction. This is a serious problem not only for the child but also for the wider community as children c
