Children and economic downturn

Children, unfortunately, are often the victims of poor decision-making by adults. Be it wars, environmental damage, pollution, poverty, or many other ills, children suffer silently, their voices hardly heard and often suppressed.

In Sri Lanka, the 2022 economic crisis had a massive impact on the country’s health and education indicators. Coming on top of the COVID pandemic lockdowns, it was children who suffered the most, falling victim to malnutrition, diseases, abuse, etc.

The latest indicators on malnutrition among children in Sri Lanka are a reflection of how badly the country is faring in this regard. Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe revealed that around one in every five Sri Lankan children under the age of five is affected by malnutrition.

He cited data released for National Nutrition Month 2025, which showed that 10.1% of children under five are stunted, 8.6% are wasted, 16.1% are underweight, and 0.57% are overweight, while stating that children who suffer from malnutrition are at a greater risk of becoming obese later in life, and obesity, in turn, significantly increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed recently that children under the age of five are nearly three times more likely to fall ill from unsafe food than older children and adults. Although they account for just nine per cent of the world’s population, young children suffer almost one-third of all foodborne disease cases.

The WHO noted that exposure to chemical contaminants in food, including methylmercury and lead, can also seriously affect children’s developing brains, leading to lifelong neurological and developmental disorders.

The global body said that foodborne diseases continue to pose a major public health challenge despite progress made since 2000. While the overall global burden of foodborne illness has declined, significant regional disparities remain, with the highest burden recorded in Africa and South-East Asia.

The past few months have shown us the dreadful impact wars have on children. The children of Gaza have faced the most loathsome atrocities due to the constant bombing of their homes. Similarly, wars in other regions, including in some African nations, are exposing children to the horrors of war.

The ongoing Iran/Middle East-centred attacks have dealt a blow to the economies of many countries around the world and, in turn, led to less funding for vital sectors such as health, education, and children’s welfare.

Sri Lanka is among the countries impacted by the Iran conflict. The downturn in the economy, rising costs, and loss of income are also disrupting the focus on children. A cash-strapped Government keeps raising taxes and the prices of essential goods and services, with the indirect impact falling on the youngest and most vulnerable in the land.

Worldwide, billions of dollars are being spent on wars, money that should go towards the wellbeing of children across the globe. But that seems to be of little concern to world leaders, who think nothing of unleashing wars that are impacting the lives of millions around the world.

For countries like Sri Lanka, the focus is more on pleasing adults who are potential voters than children, who have little say. Sadly, most governments fail their children, and in Sri Lanka’s case, economic uncertainty means there will be less focus on the youngest segment of the population, thus pushing them further towards poverty.