In 1991, one year after the Gulf war, 9.2 per cent of children under five years in the 15 governorates in the area were found to be malnourished. Today, the figure has risen to 25 per cent, or some 750,000 children. When parents brought their children to receive the polio vaccine, a sample of 15,000 children was also examined to assess their nutritional status.
Chronic malnutrition has long-term implications on a child's physical and mental development.
After a child reaches two or three years of age, chronic malnutrition is difficult to reverse and damage to the child's development is likely to be permanent. This situation is a direct result of a combination of factors including adverse economic conditions, poor health, inappropriate or insufficient food, and lack of proper care.