In Brief: Stunting not as bad as expected in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Photo: Erica Silverman/IRIN

The Occupied Palestinian Territories have a stunting prevalence of 10 percent, a surprisingly better result than other, far wealthier neighbours

DUBAI, 13 November 2009 (IRIN) - 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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