U.N. agencies warned Monday that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to the deaths of an additional 51,000 children under the age of 5 in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of the year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations children's agency UNICEF said the disruption of essential health and nutrition services risked "reversing progress (in) child survival in the region by nearly two decades."
"While we do not have many cases of COVID-19 among children in the region, it is evident that the pandemic is affecting children's health firsthand," the agencies warned.
"An additional 51,000 children under the age of 5 might die in the region by the end of 2020" in the case of rising malnutrition and a protracted lack of access to vaccinations and treatment for childhood diseases.
Such a number of extra deaths would represent an increase of almost 40% over pre-COVID-19 figures, they said in a joint statement issued in Amman.
The agencies called for a "full and safe resumption" of essential immunization campaigns and nutrition services, following "strict precautionary measures for infection prevention."
The agencies cited overstretched health facilities with little personal protective equipment, economic hardships and parents' fears of contracting COVID-19 at health clinics among factors that could cause a huge rise in child deaths.
"But we can avoid this scenario, allowing tens of thousands of children to celebrate their fifth birthday surrounded by their families and friends," they said.
They urged authorities to work "to increase trust in public health systems and promote appropriate care-seeking behaviors among families."
