The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says 5.6 million children under the age of 5 died around the world last year, mostly from preventable causes. In a report released yesterday, UNICEF said that about 80 percent of the deaths occurred in 2 regions- South Asia, which includes India, and Sub-Saharan Africa.<br/><br/> The organization says pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria were the predominant causes of deaths, which were often linked to malnutrition and inadequate sanitation. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Liu Zhenmin, said many deaths could be prevented through simple, cost-effective interventions. <br/><br/>He said it is important that the international community works together to rectify global income gaps, and provides assistance to the most vulnerable—children and their mothers.