The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a significant blow to global efforts to combat child poverty, with a new report revealing that 333 million children, or one in six globally,
continue to live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. The report, jointly published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank, highlights that the pandemic has thwarted progress in eradicating child poverty, leaving millions of children in dire circumstances.
The pandemic's impact resulted in 30 million fewer children escaping extreme poverty than initially projected. Consequently, one in six children still struggles to meet their basic daily needs, as outlined in the report.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the compounding crises, including the effects of Covid-19, conflicts, climate change, and economic shocks, that have halted progress and pushed millions of children into extreme poverty.
These findings represent a significant setback to the United Nations' ambitious goal of eliminating extreme child poverty by 2030. The report underscores the urgency of addressing this critical issue.
"A world where 333 million children live in extreme poverty – deprived not only of basic needs but also dignity, opportunity, or hope – is simply intolerable," declared World Bank Global Director for Poverty and Equity, Luis-Felipe Lopez-Calva.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces an especially challenging situation, with 40% of children in the region still living in extreme poverty, the highest percentage worldwide. Factors such as rapid population growth, the impact of Covid-19, and climate-related disasters have exacerbated child poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, even as other regions have made progress in reducing child poverty rates.
The World Bank and UNICEF are urging countries to prioritize the fight against child poverty and to implement a range of measures, including expanding universal child benefit programs. UNICEF's Catherine Russell emphasized that ending child poverty is a policy choice and emphasized the critical importance of not failing these vulnerable children.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for global action to address child poverty, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the world's most vulnerable children. Photo by Portpass19, Wikimedia commons.