Coronavirus forces 150 million children into poverty, UN says

The number of children plunged into poverty due to the coronavirus pandemic has increased by 150 million, analysis by Unicef and Save the Children has found.

The increase in the number of children living in deprivation in low and middle-income countries means the total has soared to approximately 1.2 billion children.

According to the charities, 45 per cent of children were severely deprived of at least one of six critical needs, which include education, healthcare, housing, nutrition, sanitation and water, in 70 countries analysed before the pandemic hit.

The report notes that not only are more children experiencing poverty than before, but the poorest children are getting poorer.

Before the pandemic, the average number of severe deprivations per child was around 0.7, but now that is estimated to have increased by 15 per cent to around 0.85.

Unicef warned the situation will likely worsen and the pandemic has already caused the “biggest global education emergency in history” as schools shut down around the world.

The report notes that child poverty encompasses more than monetary value, and to understand the full extend of the problem, “all potential deprivations must be analysed directly”.

The charity also pointed towards a need to implement policies encompassing multiple sectors that address health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation, and housing deprivations in order to end multi-dimensional poverty.

Henrietta Fore, Unicef executive director, said: “Covid-19 and the lockdown measures imposed to prevent its spread have pushed millions of children deeper into poverty.

“Families on the cusp of escaping poverty have been pulled back in, while others are experiencing levels of deprivation they have never seen before. Most concerningly, we are closer to the beginning of this crisis than at its end.”

Governments are urged to implement social protection, inclusive fiscal policies, investments in social services, and employment and labour market interventions to support families and help lift children out of poverty.

Such measures would include expanding access to quality health care and providing the tools and technology needed for children to continue their education remotely, which would also help curb the spread of coronavirus. Investments into family-friendly policies such as paid leave and child care are also recommended by Unicef.

Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children, said: “This pandemic has already caused the biggest global education emergency in history, and the increase in poverty will make it very hard for the most vulnerable children and their families to make up for the loss.

“Children who lose out on education are more likely to be forced into child labour or early marriage and be trapped in a cycle of poverty for years to come. We cannot afford to let a whole generation of children become victims of this pandemic.

“National governments and the international community must step up to soften the blow,” she added.

“Governments must prioritise the most marginalised children and their families through rapid expansion of social protection systems including cash transfers and child benefits, remote learning opportunities, healthcare services and school feeding,” added Ms Fore.

“Making these critical investments now can help countries prepare for future shocks.”