Child mortality: millions of preventable deaths as aid cuts thwart progress, UN warns

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/392/bmj.s540.short?rss=1...

Published: 2026-03-19T05:56:08-07:00

According to the UN Report on Child Mortality Levels and Trends, 4.9 million children worldwide will die before the age of 5 in 2024.[1][2] Most of these deaths were predictable and could have been prevented with better access to low-cost health care.[1] Since 2000, the under-5 mortality rate has decreased by more than half.[2][4] However, the rate of decline has slowed by more than 60% since 2015.[1] Global aid cuts are holding back further progress in the fight against child mortality.[1][2] UN leaders warn that no child should die from preventable diseases.[1] Malnutrition has contributed to child deaths especially in countries such as Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan.[1]