A UK-based charity reports that in 2022, almost half of the individuals suffering from hunger and malnutrition due to extreme weather events in countries greatly affected by the climate crisis were children.

According to the IPC hunger monitoring system, data from Save the Children revealed that out of the 57 million individuals affected by extreme weather events in 2022, 27 million were children. This puts them in a state of acute food insecurity or worse in 12 countries.

“As extreme weather events become more common and severe, the impact on children’s lives will also become more severe,” stated Gwen Hines, CEO of Save the Children UK. “In 2022, the number of children experiencing hunger due to extreme weather events increased by 135% compared to the previous year.”

50% of the 27 million affected children originated from Ethiopia and Somalia, the countries most significantly impacted.

According to Save the Children, Somalia is at high risk for climate disasters due to five consecutive seasons of unsuccessful rain and recent flooding that forced 650,000 people, including many children, to leave their homes.

The organization Save the Children has recognized Pakistan as a country where floods have had a significant impact on 33 million individuals, half of whom are children. One year after the flooding, the charity reported that 2 million children are experiencing severe malnutrition and nearly 600,000 are suffering from the most dangerous type of malnutrition.

The organization Save the Children urged leaders of wealthy countries to take action against the climate crisis by providing financial support for losses and damages as well as climate adaptation, leading up to the United Nations climate summit, COP28.

“Irrefutable backing for the newly established Loss and Damage Fund is imperative in order to effectively safeguard the well-being of children both presently and in the long-term,” stated Hines. “During COP28, it is crucial that global leaders heed the voices of children and involve them in devising potential solutions.”

The organization Save the Children is urging leaders to take action in addressing pressing issues such as conflict, inequality, and weak health, nutrition, and social protection systems that contribute to severe food and nutrition insecurity.

Certain data in this report was sourced from Agence France-Presse.