The death of a child is a tragic loss. Yet, every year, worldwide, almost 10.5 million children die before their fifth birthday. That's 30,000 children a day. Most of these children live in developing countries and die from a disease or a combination of diseases that could be prevented or treated if the means were there. Sometimes the cause is as simple as the lack of antibiotics for treating pneumonia or oral rehydration salts for diarrhea. Malnutrition contributes to over half these deaths.

Child mortality is closely linked to poverty: advances in infant and child survival have come more slowly in poor countries and to the poorest people in wealthier countries. Improvements in public health services are key, including safe water and better sanitation. Education, especially for girls and mothers, will save children's lives. Raising incomes can help, but little will be achieved unless a greater effort is made to ensure that services reach those who need them most.

Source: http://www.childinfo.org/, "Child Mortality", updated May 2006

2.2 million people in developing countries, most of them children, die every year from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and overcrowding. 90% are children under 5, mostly in developing countries.

Source: http://www.rehydrate.org/

More than half of all child deaths are associated with malnutrition, which weakens the body's resistance to illness. Poor diet, frequent illness, and inadequate or inattentive care of young children can lead to malnutrition.

If a woman is malnourished during pregnancy, or if her child is malnourished during the first two years of life, the child's physical and mental growth and development may be slowed. This cannot be made up when the child is older – it will affect the child for the rest of his or her life.

Source: http://rehydrate.org/nutrition/index.html