Each year 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday (UNICEF)
496 views · Published 11 September 2009 · 0:46 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: United Nations · 2009 · News & Politics
United Nations, New York, 10 September 2009 - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today released new figures showing that the rate of deaths of children under five continued to drop in 2008. According to these estimates, the absolute number of child deaths in 2008 declined to an estimated 8.8 million from 12.5 million in 1990, the base line year for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Compared to 1990, 10,000 fewer children are dying every day, said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman adding that, despite progress it was still unacceptable that, each year, 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday. UNICEF also says that the global rate of improvement is still insufficient to reach the MDG. Africa and Asia combined still account for 93 per cent of all under-five deaths that occur each year in the developing world. News Story: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32002&Cr=child+mortality&Cr1=
More from this channel
-
2:09
Ban Ki-moon gets first-hand look at Gaza devastation
-
2:49
"I sincerely hope that we are going forward not back": UNRWA, Director of operations in Gaza
-
1:43
Voicing optimism, Ban Ki-moon congratulates US President on inauguration
-
1:23
UN welcomes decision by the US administration to close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay
-
1:45
Top UN envoy appeals to Congolese rebels to seek peace after arrest of leader
-
2:34
Secretary-General speaks out against clashes in North Darfur
-
10:40
UN observes Holocaust Remembrance
-
4:17
UNFPA Welcomes Restoration of U.S. Funding