For the first time this century, the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday is projected to rise, according to a new study published by the Gates Foundation.

A key factor behind the jump is significant cuts in international development assistance from several countries, researchers said. If funding cuts of 20 per cent persist, they said, 12 million more children under 5 could die by 2045.

“Over the last 25 years we’ve made incredible progress in global health, specifically for children,” said Margaret Miller, a senior program officer at the Gates Foundation. “It’s really tragic that it’s now at risk.”

Scientific advances and social progress in recent decades have caused under-5 deaths to drop from around 88 for every 1,000 live births in 1990 to around 36 throu

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