About 35,400 thousand Albanians will fall into poverty following the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to a new UNICEF report published this week.
The report finds that out of the 35,400 people who will fall into poverty in the country, 9,000 are children. This increase in poverty will translate into 743 lost years of schooling, estimates UNICEF.
It also found that 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.
For Kosovo, the figure is even higher and reaches 41,5000 thousand people who will sink into poverty, while in Serbia, 28,000 are at risk. The figure is 17,000 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5,500 for North Macedonia and 913 in Montenegro.
“UNICEF is sounding the alarm about the consequences of this war and is calling on governments to provide exceptionally strong support for social protection and implement cash assistance programs for the most vulnerable families with children,” said Adeline Hazan, UNICEF France president.
The consequences of child poverty go far beyond families’ financial difficulties: the poorer a family is, the more significant the proportion of income spent on basic needs such as food and fuel.
And when the cost of basic needs increases, the money available for other needs like health and education decreases. As a result, the poorest children are less likely to have access to essential services and are more vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse, the UN agency says.
Rising child poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia could result in 4,500 more children dying before their first birthday and 117,000 more children dropping out of school in 2022 alone, UNICEF warns.
