Because of the Corona pandemic

UNICEF: An additional 150 million children enter poverty

Children who lose an education are most likely to be forced into child labor or early marriage.

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The Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdown measures have pushed 150 million additional children into poverty, according to an analysis published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Save the Children Foundation, yesterday.

The organization stated that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a 15% increase in the number of children living in deprivation in low and middle-income countries, which brings the total number to about 1.2 billion children.

The report noted that the world's poorest children are getting poorer, and warns that the situation is likely to deteriorate further in the coming months.

"What is most alarming is that we are closer to the beginning of this crisis than to the end," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a press release.

The report called on governments to rapidly expand the social protection system and access to healthcare and distance learning opportunities.

"Children who lose out on education are most likely to be forced into child labor or early marriage and trapped in the cycle of poverty for years to come," said Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children.

The analysis was based on data from more than 70 countries on whether children are deprived of education, medicine, housing, food, sanitation and water.

The report calls on governments to rapidly expand the social protection system.

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