UN says malnutrition in mothers soars in crisis-hit countries

Children born to malnourished mothers are also more likely to develop chronic health problems and have a higher risk of mortality [Al Jazeera]

The number of pregnant and breastfeeding women suffering from acute malnutrition has soared by 25 percent across 12 countries in Africa and Asia since 2020, according to a UNICEF report.

In the report published on Tuesday, UNICEF said that the number of malnourished mothers increased from 5.5 million to 6.9 million over the last two years in countries hardest hit by a global nutrition crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, drought, conflict and instability.