UNICEF on Monday (February 20th) warned that almost 1.4 million children suffering from severe malnutrition could die this year from famine in Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan, AFP reported Tuesday.
In Yemen, where war has been raging for nearly two years, 462,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition, while 450,000 children are severely malnourished in north-east Nigeria.
Fews Net, the famine early warning system, said some remote areas of Nigeria's Borno state are already affected by famine and the disaster is likely to continue as aid agencies are unable to reach those in need.
Drought in Somalia has left 185,000 children on the brink of famine, but that figure is expected to reach 270,000 in the next few months, UNICEF said.
In South Sudan, over 270,000 children are malnourished and a famine has just been declared in parts of the north of the country, where 20,000 children live.
UNICEF director Anthony Lake appealed for quick action, saying "We can still save many lives."
