Covid-19 pandemic could push up to 86 million more children into poverty
The total number of children living below the national poverty line in low- and middle-income countries could reach 672 million by the end of 2020
The economic fallout of Covid-19 pandemic could push up to 86 million more children into household poverty by the end of 2020, according to a new study.
The new analysis named 'Children in monetary poor households and Covid-19' was released on May 28 by Save the Children and UNICEF.
The analysis highlights that without urgent action to protect families from the financial hardships caused by the pandemic, the total number of children living below the national poverty line in low- and middle-income countries could reach 672 million by the end of 2020.
Nearly two-thirds of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Countries across Europe and Central Asia could see the most significant increase, up to 44 per cent across the region. Latin America and the Caribbean could see a 22 per cent increase.
Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, said, "The coronavirus pandemic has triggered an unprecedented socio-economic crisis that is draining resources for families all over the world."
"The scale and depth of financial hardship among families threaten to roll back years of progress in reducing child poverty and to leave children deprived of essential services. Without concerted action, families barely getting by could be pushed into poverty, and the poorest families could face levels of deprivation that have not been seen for decades," she added.
"The shocking poverty impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic will hit children hard. Children are highly vulnerable to even short periods of hunger and malnutrition—potentially affecting them for their whole life. If we act now and decisively, we can prevent and contain the pandemic threat facing the poorest countries and some of the most vulnerable children. This report should be a wake-up call for the world. Poverty is not inevitable for children," said Inger Ashing, Save the Children International CEO.
Save the Children and UNICEF warn that the impact of the global economic crisis caused by the pandemic and related containment policies is two-fold.
Immediate loss of income means families are less able to afford the basics, including food and water, less likely to access health care or education, and more at risk of child marriage, violence, exploitation and abuse.
When fiscal contraction occurs, the reach and quality of the services families depend on can also be diminished.
For the poorest families, lack of access to social care services or compensatory measures further limits their ability to abide by containment and physical distancing measures, and thus further increases their exposure to infection.
Before the pandemic, two-thirds of children worldwide did not have access to any form of social protection. It makes impossible for families to withstand financial shocks when they hit and further the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Only 16 per cent of children in Africa are covered by social protection.
Hundreds of millions of children remain multidimensionally poor - meaning they lack access to health care, education, proper nutrition, or adequate housing – often a reflection of inequitable investments by governments in social services.
Governments must also invest in other forms of social protection, fiscal policies, employment and labour market interventions to support families.
This includes expanding universal access to quality healthcare and other services; and investing in family friendly policies, such as paid leave and childcare.