THE United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that nearly half a billion children globally are exposed to twice as many extremely hot days as their grandparents were in the 1960s.
The report from a recent analysis compares data from the 1960s to the average from 2020-2024, showing a dramatic increase in days exceeding 35°C (95°F).
According to UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, “What were the hottest summer days are now the norm. This surge in extreme heat is disrupting children’s health, well-being, and daily lives.”
The report noted that Country-level data shows that 16 nations have seen an increase of over a month in sweltering days per year. South Sudan, for example, has seen a rise from 110 to 165 days, while Paraguay has seen a near-doubling from 36 to 71 days.
It read: “Globally, children in West and Central Africa are facing the highest exposure to extreme heat, with 123 million children (39% of the region) experiencing extreme temperatures for over a third of the year. Countries like Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Sudan are particularly affected, with children enduring over 195 extremely hot days annually.”
The analysis also highlights the growing frequency, severity, and duration of heat waves, with over half of children in 100 countries experiencing twice as many heat waves as they did 60 years ago.
“In the US alone, 36 million children are exposed to double the number of heat waves, with 5.7 million facing three times as many.”
The organization warned that exposure to extreme heat poses unique health risks, particularly for children and pregnant women, including heat stress, pregnancy-related issues, malnutrition, and increased vulnerability to diseases like malaria and dengue.
“Prolonged exposure also has long-term impacts on children’s neurodevelopment, mental health, and overall well-being.
“The impact of climate-related hazards on children is further compounded by issues such as food and water insecurity, infrastructure damage, disrupted services, and displacement.
