UNICEF in June voiced grave concern about the decision of the UK government to reduce funding to the agency.

“We depend on these resources to sustain our humanitarian and development programs for millions of children around the world, helping us to reach them before, during and after crises,” Xinhua news agency quoted the UN agency as saying in a statement. “Any cuts to these vital funds will have serious consequences for the most vulnerable children, especially now that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a global spike in the number of those in need of essential education, protection, health and water services.

“We estimate that 150 million additional children are living in multidimensional poverty because of the pandemic,” the statement added. It is too soon to know the full impact of the British funding cuts on UNICEF programs, but early indications paint an alarming picture, it said. The UK government has announced a 60 per cent reduction in core funding to UNICEF.