UNICEF: 35 thousand Albanians have been plunged into poverty by the crisis, the highest in the region together with Kosovo

About 35.4 thousand Albanians are expected to be added to the number of poor in the country as a result of the impact that the war in Ukraine will have on the country's economic performance.

The figure was published in the latest UNICEF report on the consequences of the war on child poverty.

The report finds that of the 35,400 people who will fall into poverty in the country, about 9,000 of them are children. This increase in poverty for about 6,000 children will translate into 743 lost years of schooling, estimates UNICEF, which is the United Nations children's program.

Albania and Kosovo have the highest estimate for the population that will fall into poverty as a result of the consequences of the war. For Kosovo, the figure is even higher and reaches 41.5 thousand people.

In Serbia, 28 thousand people are expected to be added to the list of the poor, in Bosnia 17 thousand, in North Macedonia 5.5 thousand, in Montenegro with 913.

In relation to the population of 2021, Kosovo leads for the high number of people who will fall into poverty, with 3.7% of the total population, followed by Albania with 1.5%, while Montenegro will have the lowest effect. (0.1%) and North Macedonia (0.4) and Serbia (0.6).

The UNICEF report says 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.

The war in Ukraine and rising inflation have plunged four million more children into poverty – an increase of 19% since 2021 – the study says, noting that children bear the brunt of the economic crisis caused by the conflict.

The report says that while children make up 25% of the population, they account for nearly 40% of the additional 10.6 million people in poverty this year.

Albania and Kosovo have the highest number of children who will fall into poverty in the region, with respectively 1.2 and 2.1% of the total number of children.

"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. for AFP.

The consequences of child poverty go far beyond families' financial difficulties: the poorer a family is, the greater 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./Monitor