Tunisia-UNICEF: Child poverty rate rises to 25% after general lockdown, up from only 19% previously

The child poverty rate in Tunisia has risen to 25% after two months of general lockdown, up from 19% previously, according to the results of a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-Tunisia.

The report, which focused on the impact of the lockdown measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic on child poverty, found that the number of Tunisian children living in poverty rose to 900 thousand children, compared to 685 thousand before the lockdown.

It explained the increase in this rate by the deterioration of families’ purchasing power, noting that the rate of decline in purchasing power has reached 7% among the entire population.

This percentage that rises to 10% among the poor groups, against only 5% among the well-off groups.

The report shows that the social measures adopted by the Government have not been able to prevent the increase in the child poverty rate in Tunisia.

It indicates that the coronavirus crisis has demonstrated the limits of the social security system, noting that the economic and social repercussions point to an increase in the loss of jobs among those employed, who are likely to move into the informal sector.

TAP