Advances in the fight for child survival, which had shown positive results in recent decades, now face an imminent risk due to significant cuts in humanitarian aid announced by major international donors. In 2023, approximately 4.8 million deaths of children under five years old were recorded, while the number of stillbirths remained at 1.9 million, with only a slight decrease compared to previous years. Despite infant deaths having decreased by more than half and stillbirths by more than a third since 2000, funding reductions have begun to cause critical problems in the health sector.
These cuts are leading to serious consequences, including a lack of healthcare personnel, clinic closures, and the interruption of vaccination programs, as well as a shortage of essential medical supplies, such as malaria treatment medications. The consequences are particularly disastrous in regions already plagued by humanitarian crises and in countries with high levels of debt.
Most child deaths occur within the first month of life, often due to premature births. Those who survive this critical period face a high risk of preventable infectious diseases such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea.
In Yemen, the situation is particularly grim. The country’s west coast is “on the brink of catastrophe” due to alarming rates of child malnutrition. According to Peter Hawkins, UNICEF representative in Yemen, some areas report up to 33% acute malnutrition, which constitutes a devastating health crisis for children. It is estimated that one in two children under five years old suffers from malnutrition and over 537,000 suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that is fatal but preventable. Hawkins emphasized that malnutrition not only weakens children’s immune systems but also compromises their developmental potential.
In Colombia, violence has caused a dramatic increase in forced displacement, with more than 695,000 people affected in just the first two months of 2025, surpassing the total number of displaced in 2024. The Catatumbo region faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in three decades, with Chocó and Cauca also being affected by the actions of non-state armed groups. Displacement has increased by 462% compared to the same period last year.
On the other hand, in Turkey, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern over the recent detention of at least 92 people, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was removed from office and charged with corruption. These detentions have sparked protests across the country, to which authorities responded with restrictions and mass arrests, including of media workers. The human rights office has called for the immediate release of all detained individuals exercising their right to protest and has called for investigations into the use of force during the disturbances.
via: MiMub in Spanish
