Covid-19: Children the hidden
victims of coronavirus pandemic
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| Children refugees in Jordan |
As the UN launches a global humanitarian response plan to
fight Covid-19, UNICEF warns about the risks to children affected by the
pandemic.
By Vatican News
The United Nations Children’s Agency, UNICEF, is urging
governments to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children amidst the
socioeconomic consequences of Covid-19.
Children at risk
According to a statement published on their website on
Thursday, UNICEF says millions of children around the world are in danger
precisely because of actions taken to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Cases of abuse and exploitation are likely to increase, says the
statement.
With school closures and movement restrictions disrupting
children’s routines and support systems, some are now more vulnerable than ever
to domestic violence and stress, reads the statement.
Children hidden victims
“Children are the hidden victims of the Covid-19 pandemic”,
says UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore. “Lockdowns and school closures
are affecting their education, mental health, and access to basic health
services. The risks of exploitation are higher than ever, for boys and girls
alike”, she adds.
“For children on the move or living through conflicts, the
consequences will be unlike any we have ever seen. We must not let them down”,
she concludes.
Global humanitarian response
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the United Nations launched a $2
billion coordinated global humanitarian response plan to fight Covid-19 in some
of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
The plan aims to protect millions of people and to stop the
virus from circling back around the globe. The pandemic is now being felt in
countries that are already facing humanitarian crises because of conflict,
natural disasters and climate change.
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