A QUARTER of the world’s children under five years old have severe food poverty, with many of them in Africa, the United Nations warned today.

A report by UN’s children agency Unicef said that 181 million children under five, or 27 per cent of the world’s youngest population, live in severe food poverty — defined as consuming nothing in a day or, at best, two out of eight food groups.

Africa’s population of more than 1.3 billion people is one of the most affected mainly due to conflict, climate crises and rising food prices.

The continent accounts for one-third of the global burden and 13 of the 20 most affected countries.

In the absence of vital nutrients, children living with “extremely poor” diets are more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition, Unicef said.

Report author Harriet Torlesse said: “When wasting becomes very severe, they are 12 times more likely to die.”

“Governments and partners must act urgently. The work starts now.”