A new report from UNICEF Argentina warns that seven out of ten children in the country were living in poverty in the second half of last year.
Some 8.6 million children under the age of 18 lived in households that do not meet the minimum income threshold or in environments where they are deprived of their rights, warned the UN agency dedicated to children.
According to data collected in a UNICEF report in the second half of 2023, child poverty is present in two dimensions: 57.5 percent of children experience poverty due to economic resources, while 43 percent face poverty due to deprivation of fundamental rights such as education and health. Thirty-one percent of those aged under 18 experience both forms of poverty simultaneously, equating to some 3.8 million children.
The report highlights how macroeconomic deterioration has increased both in poverty and extreme poverty.
"The basic food basket is increasing at a faster rate than general inflation rates and wages," said UNICEF Argentina’s Sebastián Waisgrais, an economist specialising in social inclusion and monitoring.
Waisgrais highlighted the need for urgent measures to protect household incomes and improve the coverage of social benefits.
In the last six months of last year, extreme poverty among minors increased by five percent to 19.4 percent, or some 643,000 kids, observed the specialist.
"This is the first time we have seen a very significant statistical increase” in extreme poverty, warned Waisgrais.
UNICEF’s data shows significant statistical differences depending on location, gender and educational level. For example, child poverty in villas or barrios populares reaches as high as 84 percent and in general, more girls are affected than boys.
Waisgrais stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening budget allocations for household income protection policies.
"While there have been positive signs in this regard, it is key to maximise efforts to improve the coverage and adequacy of benefits," he said.
– TIMES/NA
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