UNICEF: COVID 19 doubles the crisis on Yemen Syria and Libya

The UN children’s agency has called for an extra €85 million to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa.

UNICEF says conflicts and wars have led to the highest number of children in need of assistance in the world.

It says nearly 25 million children are suffering including many who are refugees and internally displaced.

UNICEF estimates the devastating effects of lockdowns on businesses will drag around eight million more people into poverty.

Euronews spoke to Juliette Touma, the Regional Chief of Communication for UNICEF, in the Middle East and North Africa.

“Our greatest concerns are for children in places like Syria, like Yemen, like Libya, where conflict meant that these children’s lives were (already) unbearable and now this virus comes and makes it a double burden. So this is our biggest concern and this is where we actually intensified our humanitarian assistance,“ Touma said