120 million children in South Asia could be pushed into poverty: UNICEF

NEW DELHI: Making clear the most serious effects of Covid-19, a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund has revealed that the pandemic could push an additional 120 million children in South Asia into poverty. The South Asian region, which is home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, has seen a rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in various countries in the region. The report titled, “Lives upended: How COVID-19 threatens the futures of 600 million South Asian children,” noted that children are at a lower risk of being infected by the virus due to their strong immunity, they are probably the one that are going to be most affected by the economic and social effects of the pandemic.

In eight countries that have been included in the study, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka, an estimated 340 million children already live in ‘multi-dimensional poverty’. This means that 240 million children residing in these eight countries experience poverty in various sectors of life – poor health, lack of education, poor sanitation, poor quality of work and sometimes even forced child labour.

According to the report, the pandemic may push an additional 120 million children across the poverty line within the next six months. Jean Gough, Regional Director (South Asia), UNICEF, said that the side effects of the pandemic across South Asia have been damaging the children in numerous ways. This not only includes the economic and social effects of the pandemic but also the measures taken by the government to stop it.

He went on to add, “But the longer-term impact of the economic crisis on children will be on a different scale entirely. Without urgent action now, Covid-19 could destroy the hopes and futures of an entire generation.” Reduced access to schools, lack of nutrition, a pause in vaccination and other health awareness programs and risk of sexual, mental and physical abuse during the lockdown are some of the problems that children in South Asia stand to face in the coming months, said the report.

UNICEF cited seven outbreaks of measles or 250 cases in Nepal during its lockdown and a 55% drop in the number of routine vaccinations given to Bangladeshi children in April, as compared to February.

According to the report, immunization, nutrition and other vital health services have been severely disrupted, potentially threatening the lives of young children and mothers. And with the closure of schools, the report estimates that more than 430 million children have been shut out of their classrooms.

In many cases, remote learning has taken the place of actual classrooms, but the unavailability of internet connection or electricity in rural areas has limited access in many places.

The report further noted that while the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the economies of all eight countries under scrutiny, their governments have done little or nothing to handle the situation. Those countries that have managed to extend social security schemes and introduce emergency measures have not been able to do so efficiently and so that effects of these measures goes to waste.