Africa among hardest hit as Mideast tensions threaten to push more children into poverty

By Edith Mutethya in Nairobi, Kenya |

chinadaily.com.cn |

Up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into poverty by the end of the year as a result of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with Asia and Africa expected to be the hardest hit, according to a new report by the United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF.

Asia and the Pacific is projected to record the largest absolute increase in child poverty, with 8.1 million additional children living in poor households under the adverse scenario and 9.9 million under the severe scenario. Africa follows, with an estimated 6.5 million additional children falling into poverty under the adverse scenario and 8.8 million under the severe scenario.

The report attributes the disproportionate impact on the two regions to their already high baseline poverty rates and heightened vulnerability to external economic shocks.