Malnutrition in Madagascar

A study conducted by the Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and a number of local NGO’s has reported that malnutrition levels in Madagascar have reached up to 74% in some parts of the remote southeastern region of the country. This problem is predominantly related to poor food security, with households primarily dependent on farming, which therefore means their livelihoods are extremely vulnerable to climatic conditions. The remoteness and high transportation costs of many of the affected areas have made the delivery of food extremely difficult, aggravating the situation further. This must be overcome however, as aid is desperately needed to prevent further human losses from starvation.