18 Mar 2026 - 08:36
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that around 4.9 million children worldwide died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3 million newborns.
The agency warns that progress in reducing child deaths is slowing, and most of these deaths are preventable with basic healthcare. Leading causes include infections, malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, and complications at birth.
Newborns account for nearly half of all under-five deaths, and children in war-torn regions and countries such as Chad, DR Congo, Niger, Nigeria, and parts of South Asia are most at risk.
UNICEF emphasizes that investing in child health, vaccinations, nutrition programs, and skilled care at birth could save millions of lives.
