long period to come, if the fundamental economic and environmental crises are to be successfully resolved. Beyond financing, a great need at the moment is for African Governments to be provided with technical support to assist them in the great efforts they are making to improve their policies. 69. The challenge to Africa itself, and to the rest of the international community as well, could not be more stark or more urgent. In Africa as a whole, per capita output was lower in 1982 - before the drought - than in 1970 for all but seven sub-Saharan African countries. An inevitable - if shocking - consequence is that 20 per cent of the total population in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be undernourished, an increase by 20 million since the early 1970s. General health conditions are bad. Most of the deaths in the drought-stricken areas are due, not to starvation alone, but to the increased vulnerability to infectious disease and the vicious circle created by extreme undernutrition and disease. Children are particularly vulnerable. Child mortality is rising and is twice the average for all developing countries. Even before the famine in Ethiopia, 1,000 children died every day on this continent. What is usually forgotten, however, is that, at least until the recent drastic 20 per cent reduction in output since 1981, the growth in African food production was impressive by the standards of the past and compares favourably even with that of industrial countries today. Unfortunately, the 2 per cent average annual growth of food production was more than swallowed up by population growth, averaging 2.7 per cent per annum and exceeding 4 per cent in -14- some countries, worse, the young able-bodied men are migrating to the cities; so a 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by Africa in terms of economic development, environmental crises, and humanitarian crises, including food insecurity, undernutrition, and child mortality. The text also touches on the need for technical support and international cooperation to address these issues. The focus is on the continent's overall well-being and development, rather than specific sectors like industry or transport.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief, Health