UNICEF on Monday (May 15th) revealed that a recent analysis covering 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa shows that poverty continues to impact at least 29 million children – one in four children in the region.
These children are deprived of the minimum requirements in two or more of the most basic life necessities, including basic education, decent housing, nutritious food, quality health care, safe water, sanitation and access to information.
"When children are deprived of the basics, they are at risk of getting trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty," said UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa Geert Cappelaere.
While progress has been made in most countries to reduce poverty, the number of children living in poverty continues to be high, with countries affected by conflict seeing a rapid regression of gains made in past decades.
"The return on investing in the most vulnerable children now is a peaceful and prosperous region in the future," said Cappelaere. "It takes a combination of true leadership and courageous public and private investment from governments, civil society, private sector, individuals and the international community."
