Children Suffering in the Ukrainian War

 The war in Ukraine, and the resulting rise in the cost of living, has plunged millions more children into poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in recent months, warns a study by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It claims that while children make up 25% of the population, they account for nearly 40% of the 10.6 million additional people in poverty this year. The report covers 22 countries.  

“Children are bearing the heaviest burden of the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine,” Unicef said. The increase in child poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia could result in an additional 4,500 children dying before their first birthday and 117,000 more children dropping out of school in 2022 alone, UNICEF warns.

The conflict “and rising inflation have driven an additional four million children across eastern Europe and Central Asia into poverty, a 19 percent increase since 2021”.

“Russia accounts for nearly three-quarters of the total increase in the number of children living in poverty due to the Ukraine war and a cost-of-living crisis across the region, with an additional 2.8 million children now living in households below the poverty line,” Unicef reported.

“Ukraine is home to half a million additional children living in poverty, the second largest share,” Unicef said.

Romania followed closely behind, with a further 110,000 children in poverty.

UNICEF: 4m more children in poverty in eastern Europe and Russia due to war and inflation | Euronews