UNICEF on the corona pandemic: 100 million children slipped into poverty

According to UNICEF, the corona pandemic is the biggest crisis for children since the organization was founded. More than 100 million minors have slipped into poverty, 1.6 billion were temporarily unable to go to school.

According to a study by the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, the corona pandemic has plunged an additional 100 million children worldwide into poverty. That was ten percent more within less than two years, reported the organization. Even before the pandemic, one billion children worldwide did not have sufficient access to education, health care, shelter, food, sanitation or clean water.

Worst crisis since UNICEF was founded

Such a crisis has never occurred in the 75 years since UNICEF was founded. “As the number of children starving, out of school, molested, living in poverty or being forced into marriage increases, the number of children who have access to health care, vaccines, adequate food and essential services is falling,” shared UNICEF boss Henrietta Fore with. In the best case scenario, it will take seven to eight years for the setbacks to be made up for in many areas.

“Preventing a lost decade” is what UNICEF calls the report that describes the effects of the corona pandemic on children in the world. 50 million children suffered from emaciation, the most severe form of malnutrition. Another nine million could be added in 2022.

160 million minors have to work

At times, 1.6 billion children worldwide did not go to school during the Corona period due to lockdowns. Almost 80 percent of face-to-face classes were canceled last year. According to the latest estimates, 160 million minors would have to work, an increase of 8.4 million in four years. By the end of 2022, there is a risk that another nine million minors will end up in child labor because they have to support their families.

According to UNICEF, girls are particularly affected in some areas: an additional ten million underage girls could be forcibly married by 2030. In addition, around 23 million girls would not have received any vaccinations against dangerous infectious diseases in 2020 alone.

Among other things, the children’s aid organization calls for a more resolute fight against the pandemic, including through higher vaccination rates, and more investment in social security systems.

With information from Peter Mücke, ARD-Studio New York.