Child malnutrition is worsening in Uganda, with the number of acutely malnourished children in the northeastern Karamoja region projected to rise by 25 per cent by 2026, Save the Children has warned.
The humanitarian organisation said prolonged dry spells linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon were putting additional pressure on food supplies and significantly affecting children’s health in the region.
New figures indicate that the number of children suffering from malnutrition has risen from about 122,100 recorded during an assessment in June to an estimated 154,200.
Of this number, an estimated 38,000 children are either suffering from or at risk of developing the most severe form of malnutrition, requiring urgent medical attention.
Karamoja, home to about 1.6 million people, has experienced worsening food insecurity in recent months as vulnerable communities struggle with reduced food production and limited access to essential resources.
Save the Children said the situation was being compounded by weather conditions affecting Karamoja and other drought-prone areas of Uganda and East Africa.
The region has been experiencing the effects of what the organisation described as a “super El Niño,” with sparse rainfall contributing to localised crop failures and increased plant stress.
The deteriorating conditions have heightened concerns over the ability of vulnerable households to secure adequate food, particularly for children already at risk of malnutrition.
Save the Children’s warning comes amid growing humanitarian concerns across drought-affected parts of East Africa, where erratic rainfall and food insecurity are placing additional pressure on communities and essential services.
The organisation has called attention to the urgent need to protect children from the worsening effects of food insecurity and malnutrition as climatic pressures continue to affect livelihoods across the region.
