The coronavirus pandemic could have a devastating effect on children in South Asia with UNICEF warning that the disease has the potential to disrupt services critical to children¡¯s welfare and well-being in the region.
UNICEF's report states that while they may?be less susceptible to the virus itself, children are being?profoundly affected by the fallout, including the economic?and social consequences of the lockdown and other?measures taken to counter the pandemic.
An additional 2,400 children in South Asia could die every day from the indirect consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic is ¡°unravelling decades of health, education and other advances for children across South Asia and governments must take urgent action to prevent millions of families from slipping back into poverty,¡± the Unicef said.
In the worst-case scenario, South Asia could see the death of an additional 8.81 lakh children aged five or under and that of 36,000 mothers over the next 12 months. The bulk of these deaths would occur in India and Pakistan, although Bangladesh and Afghanistan could also see significant levels of additional mortality, the report said.
¡°The direct risk to children from the virus is much less than that from the disruption to routine health services,¡± said Unicef health adviser for South Asia, Paul Rutter. ¡°It is crucial that childbirth, child health and nutrition services remain available for families during the time of Covid-19,¡± said the report, quoting him.
¡°The side-effects of the pandemic across South Asia, including the lockdown and other measures, have been damaging for children in numerous ways,¡¯ said Jean Gough, Unicef regional director for South Asia.
Decades of progress on children¡¯s health, education and?other priorities risk being wiped out. Yet the crisis has?also presented opportunities to expose and tackle some of?the longstanding challenges facing children in the region,?especially those from the most vulnerable communities, the report added.