United Nations: About 5 million children will die before reaching their fifth birthday in 2021

According to United Nations estimates published today, Tuesday, that nearly 5 million children died before reaching the age of five in 2021.

The latest estimates from the United Nations Interagency Child Mortality Estimation Group found that 2.1 million children and youth between the ages of 5 and 24 lost their lives. During the same period, which is equivalent to the death of a child or young person every 4.4 seconds.

A separate United Nations report released on Tuesday found that 1.9 million babies were stillborn in 2021. The report said many deaths could have been prevented with better health care.

"Such a widespread and preventable tragedy should never be accepted as inevitable," said Vidya Ganesh of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). "Progress is possible with stronger political will and targeted investment in equitable access to primary health care for every woman and child."

The United Nations said in a statement that while things have improved since 2000 with the global under-five mortality rate down by 50%, mortality rates for older children and young adults down 36% and the stillbirth rate down by 35%, “the gains have decreased dramatically.” since 2010".

The UN team warned that nearly 59 million children and young people will die before 2030 if "rapid action is not taken to improve health services".

The reports also showed that sub-Saharan Africa experienced 56% of all deaths of children under the age of five in 2021, with children born in the region having the highest risk of child mortality in the world.

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