The number of pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls experiencing malnutrition has skyrocketed since 2020 across 12 countries in Africa and Asia. That’s according to UNICEF, which says nearly 7 million mothers are suffering from hunger as a food shortage crisis has worsened due to the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, ongoing conflict and the pandemic. The hardest-hit nations include Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Children born to malnourished mothers are more likely to develop chronic health issues and have a higher risk of mortality.