Half of world’s children at risk of war, report finds

POST TIME: 1 June, 2018 00:00 00 AM

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY

CNN

Half of world’s children at risk of war, report finds

A displaced Syrian child at a temporary camp in the village of Ain Issa on April 28, 2017. CNN Photo

WASHINGTON: More than half of the world's children are at risk one or more of three threats -- conflict, poverty and discrimination against girls –reports CNN referring to a new report from Save the Children. The report, published ahead of International Children's Day today, estimates 1.2 billion children are exposed to at least one of those risks. Of those, 153 million children are at extreme risk of all three.

"More than half the world's children start their lives held back because they are a girl, because they are poor or because they are growing up in a warzone," the report said. "Early marriage, child labor and malnutrition are just some of the life-changing events that can rob children of their childhood."

The organization's second annual End of Childhood Index ranked countries on how much children in each country face death, malnutrition, lack of education and being forced into marriage, motherhood or work.

"Despite their economic, military, and technological might, the United States (36th), Russia (37th) and China (40th) all trail Western European countries in the index," said the report. Singapore and Slovenia tied for top place in the ranking, while Niger ranks last among countries surveyed.

Almost all developed countries have little or no change in their scores, according to the report, with 25 of 30 countries moving two or fewer points in either direction.

Australia (16th) improved its ranking, while Germany (12th) and the UK (12th) maintained their positions.

The world's poorest children are concentrated in rural areas (81%). Most live in sub-Saharan Africa (52%) and South Asia (36%). India alone is home to 30%, said the report.

"Overall, the data collected for the End of Childhood Index document tremendous gaps between rich and poor countries and the urgent need to accelerate progress for the most vulnerable children," said the report.

The report said that although in most regions, child mortality rates have declined substantially faster for the poorest than for the richest households since 2000, they are not closing fast enough.