Vulnerable Children and Risks in COVID-19 Times

Highlights

All children and adolescents are affected by the Covid-19 global pandemic. While the virus does not discriminate, the most vulnerable will be hit hardest. UNICEF is particularly concerned about the impact on those that have an inequitable access to resources; those living in poverty, disabled, and socially excluded. 

The Covid-19 crisis has intensifi ed inequities and increased the number of vulnerable people; some will be hit by recession and lack of social protection, they will have limited access to or no remote learning at all, they will suffer violence at home, and some will be deprived of essential nutrition, hygiene, protection and health. In this extraordinary situation, lacking quality access to internet is an obstacle to children, adolescents and youth’s access to interconnectedness, playing and learning.

This brief identifi es vulnerable children during in the current crisis. The information shown is obtained from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2018 and population and administrative data from Geostat, all ranging from 2018 to 2020. So this document refl ects the situation of children and families before the Covid-19 crisis and it helps identifying children and families at risk and vulnerable. While we do not know yet in detail the real scale and the magnitude of affected and vulnerable children, this information is a well-informed indicative baseline that will help advocating for and engaging with those in need and vulnerable.