Hauwa Bwami's grandson Suleiman, right, who nearly lost his life to kwashiokor, andt others fetch water at a borehole in Kaltungo Poshereng Nigeria, Sunday, June 2, 2024. More than a dozen women gathered this week in Kaltungo's Poshereng village where they are learning at least 200 recipes they can prepare with those local foods which, in the absence of rain, are grown in sand-filled sacks that require small amounts of water. The training session mirrored the struggles of households who are more challenged amid Nigeria's worst cost of living crisis. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
Millions of young children around the world, especially in Africa, are going hungry. This is due to war, climate change, and rising food costs. Some areas are teaching families how to grow their own food to fight malnutrition. This is a serious problem that needs immediate action from governments and aid groups.
Nigeria's twins show the harsh reality of hunger in Africa. Many young children there, like the 9-month-old twins, aren't getting enough to eat. This is a problem affecting 181 million children worldwide.
Conflict and climate change are making things worse. These factors make it harder to grow food in Africa, especially in places like Nigeria. There, some communities are learning to grow vegetables like cassava in special sacks that need less water. This helps families fight malnutrition, a serious condition caused by lack of nutrients.
Malnutrition can be deadly. It weakens children's immune systems, making them more likely to get sick and die. In some areas of Africa, children are dying from malnutrition because families can't afford treatment or live too far from hospitals.
There's some progress, but more needs to be done. The number of hungry children in West Africa has gone down in recent years. However, inequality is a big problem. Even in South Africa, Africa's richest country, many children go hungry.
The UN is calling for urgent action from governments and aid groups. They need to find ways to help families grow food and get children the care they need.
