UNICEF: 400 Million Hungry in South Asia by Dezan Shira & Associates

A UNICEF report says that at least 405 million people in South Asia now suffer from chronic hunger, a 40 year high.

The figure is more than 100 million higher compared to 300 million in 2004-2006 as a consequence of the global financial crisis affecting the region?"'""s poor the most.

The report said: Without urgent, inclusive government response, the poor of South Asia, nearly 20 percent of the world?"'""s population, will sink further into poverty and malnutrition with long-term negative consequences for growth and development in the region and globally.?"'�

The UNICEF report looked mainly at the effects of the economic crisis on women and children in eight South Asian nations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

It is estimated that close to 33 percent of the region?"'""s 1.8 billion people eat less than the minimum recommended daily requirements while three-quarters are in households surviving on less than US$2 a day.

The region?"'""s poor, who have borne the brunt of the economic trouble, desperately need governments to spend more money on food, health care and education to alleviate the crisis, said Daniel Toole, a regional director for the U.N. Children?"'""s Fund, or UNICEF.

Toole said India and Pakistan should reduce money spent on defence and spend more on social investments. Pakistan?"'""s allots 18 percent of government spending for defense while India spent 14 percent from 1997 and 2006. The agency said that education accounted for less than 4 percent and health care received 2 percent in the same period.

This article was written for the India news forum, 2point6billion.com. For Indian business news, please visit India-briefing.com. For assistance on working or doing business in India, please contact Dezan Shira & Associates.

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory