The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that, based on data from more than 130 low- and middle-income countries, 417 million of the world’s children face serious shortages in at least two vital areas critical to their health, development and well-being.
In conjunction with World Children’s Day, UNICEF released a report entitled The State of the World’s Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty is Ours Together responsibility.”
The report, based on data from more than 130 low- and middle-income countries, assessed the extent of multidimensional poverty in six categories: education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation and water.
According to the report, one in five children in these low- and middle-income countries, or 417 million children, experience severe deprivation in at least two vital areas critical to their health, development and well-being.
The report highlights that 118 million children experience three or more types of deprivation, and 17 million children face four or more types of deprivation.
The highest rates of multidimensional poverty among children are found in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. One example is Chad, where 64% of children experience two or more severe deprivations, and about 25% experience three or more severe deprivations.
Sanitation is the most common major problem: 65% of children in low-income countries, 26% in middle-income countries and 11% in high-income countries do not have access to a toilet.
In a statement about the report, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: “Children growing up in poverty and deprived of basic needs such as nutritious food, adequate sanitation and housing face devastating consequences for their health and development.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way. When governments commit to ending child poverty through effective policies, they open up a world of new opportunities for children,” she added.
Calling on governments and businesses to work to ensure children’s access to basic needs and their health and safety, the executive director concluded: “Investing in children creates a healthier, more peaceful world for everyone.”