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Stunting not as bad as expected in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Children waiting for their mother outside As-Shifa, Gaza’s primary hospital, where an average of 1,200 babies are delivered per month Erica Silverman/IRIN
Children waiting for their mother outside As-Shifa, Gaza’s primary hospital
    DUBAI
    An estimated 200 million children aged under five in the developing world suffer from stunted growth due to maternal and childhood undernutrition, according to a new UNICEF report.

    “Stunting is associated with developmental problems and is often impossible to correct. A child who is stunted is likely to experience a lifetime of poor health and underachievement,” a UNICEF statement on 11 November said.

    In the Middle East, the Occupied Palestinian Territory has a stunting prevalence of 10 percent, a surprisingly better result than other, far wealthier neighbours, which have the following scores:

    Lebanon - 11
    Jordan - 12
    Oman - 13
    UAE - 17
    Saudi Arabia - 20
    Kuwait - 24
    Iraq - 26
    Syria - 28
    Egypt - 29
    Yemen – 58

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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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