AROUND 23.4 million additional children could fall into poverty by the end of the year as a result of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with Asia and Africa expected to be the hardest hit, according to a damning new United Nations report.

The report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) reveals that Asia and the Pacific are projected to record the largest absolute increases in child poverty, with 8.1 million additional children living in poor households under the adverse scenario and 9.9 million under the severe scenario.

Africa follows, with an estimated 6.5 million additional children falling into poverty under the adverse scenario and 8.8 million under the severe scenario.

The UN report says the disproportionate impact on the two regions is due to their already high baseline poverty rates and heightened vulnerability to external economic shocks.

Unicef executive director Catherine Russell said: “Children, including children far beyond the region, are paying the price for the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

“The longer this continues, the worse the consequences will be. Rapidly rising costs are making food and education unaffordable for many families. For children already living in poverty, these shocks deepen deprivation and can cause harm that lasts a lifetime.”

Unicef called on national governments to take more action to ensure continued support for children and families, by fully funding cash assistance programmes and ensuring aid reaches those most in need before fuel or food subsidies are removed.

The UN agency also called for the establishment of child-focused preparedness systems to help countries respond to future shocks.

Unicef also urged donor governments to provide rapid, flexible and low-cost financing to the countries facing the greatest fiscal pressure from this crisis, particularly those already spending more on debt servicing than on essential services for children.