Hunger emerges as the foremost concern affecting children globally, according to Save the Children’s extensive survey of over 25,000 adults across 13 countries. The study, conducted between September and October, sheds light on the urgency of the hunger crisis, intensified by the climate crisis, conflict, and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. As 45% of adults identify hunger as the primary issue impacting children, Save the Children emphasizes the need for immediate action to address the multifaceted challenges faced by children worldwide.
HUNGER DOMINATES CONCERNS
Save the Children’s survey, the largest of its kind for the aid agency, spans high-, middle-, and low-income countries, including Canada, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Key findings reveal that 45% of respondents across these countries identify hunger as the most concerning issue for children, reflecting the pervasive impact of the hunger crisis.
POVERTY AND VIOLENCE FOLLOW CLOSELY
While hunger takes the lead, ‘poverty‘ closely follows at 40%, emphasizing the interconnected nature of socio-economic challenges. ‘Violence towards children’ ranks third at approximately 39%, underlining the complex web of issues affecting children globally. In contrast, ‘climate change’ and ’emergencies and natural disasters’ receive fewer votes, illustrating a discrepancy between adult and child perspectives on critical concerns.
CHILDREN’S VOICE ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Children at COP28 express their concerns about climate change, highlighting the hardships imposed on their futures. Despite adults ranking ‘climate change‘ relatively low in their survey responses, children emphasize the profound impact climate change has on their lives. Last year, Save the Children reported that 83% of children in 15 countries witnessed climate change or inequality affecting their surroundings.
GLOBAL HUNGER CRISIS: ROOT CAUSES AND URGENT ACTION
Save the Children underscores the role of conflicts, economic instability, and climate shocks in fuelling the global hunger crisis. Approximately 20% of respondents identify ‘conflict and war’ as a top concern for children globally. The survey was conducted before the escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel on 7 October. The hunger crisis persists in conflict-affected countries and extends to regions facing extreme weather events and cost-of-living crises.
ADDRESSING THE CRISIS
Save the Children calls on world leaders to address the root causes of acute food and nutrition insecurity. Urgent action is needed to tackle global conflicts, address the climate crisis, and reduce global inequality. The organization emphasizes the necessity of building resilient health, nutrition, and protection systems to withstand shocks like COVID-19, conflicts, and climate crises. Collaboration between governments, development and humanitarian organizations, climate groups, and the private sector is crucial to addressing the multifaceted challenges impacting children globally.
