UNICEF calls for better conditions for disadvantaged children

                    

The world should focus on improving the conditions of disadvantaged children to consolidate progress in health and education obtained in the past 25 years, assesses the UNICEF in its report "World State of Childhood."

The UN agency dedicated to childhood cites major progress such as a fall of 53% in mortality of children under five years or reduction - half - of extreme poverty since 1990.

But the Fund for the United Nations Children recommends accelerate this path, aimed at achieving the ambitious goals of sustainable development set for 2030 by the United Nations last September.

By 2030, says the report, even if the developments continue at current rates, 167 million children live in poverty (90% in sub-Saharan Africa) and 69 million children under five die from preventable causes such diseases (half in sub-Saharan Africa ).

"There are still a considerable number of abandoned children," said Justin Forsyth, deputy director general of Unicef.

"Most of the progress made so far focused on children easier to reach (...) and interventions in health and nutrition, which have great impact."

"If not we focus on the disadvantaged, not deepen this progress," said Forsyth.

According to Ted Chaiban, program director, "progress is equitable," for the poorest children have, on average, twice as likely to die before age five than the most favored.

This ratio is even higher in sub-Saharan Africa, India and Pakistan, exacerbated by conflicts (250 million children living in conflict zones), the displacement of 60 million people (30 million children) and global warming.