Study: Every third child in Moldova lives in poverty. Expert: "They need help today"
The rate of absolute poverty among children in the Republic of Moldova has reached a concerning level, affecting more than one-third of all minors. A study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with UNICEF Moldova revealed that last year, 17% of children experienced extreme poverty.
The low standard of living, the modest income of parents or their migration are the factors that condemn children to face hunger or limit their access to education, notes CCF Moldova specialist Tatiana Codreanu.
"Unfortunately, where poverty appears, other vulnerabilities and other problems related to certain addictions, lack of employment, lack of access to education and many other phenomena that further deepen family problems appear. Poverty among children, unfortunately, has advanced, which means today that every 3rd child, in fact, encounters certain situations in which poverty puts them in difficulty: either lack of food or reduced food, or lack of access to education. When we say lack of access to education, we refer to things necessary to go to school - school supplies, clothes, shoes according to the season", said Tatiana Codreanu, on the "Zi de zi" show on Radio Moldova.
The occupational status of parents is one of the main factors determining the level of well-being of the child. The employment of parents significantly reduces the probability of children being in poverty.
NGOs in the field, together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, also help parents to have access to the labor market, added Tatiana Codreanu. The institution works annually with 500 children from 29 districts of the country, who are facing absolute poverty.
"Each intervention is analyzed and evaluated to respond to the family's problem and, in this way, to be able to support it to get out of this situation, so that children have access to education, parents can find or support them to find a job to support themselves. Certainly, state programs are not enough. That is why public associations provide support to enhance this effort and collaborate to improve these programs, so that, eventually, we can develop sustainable and adequate state programs to combat poverty. The priority is economic growth, but this is gradual and, we understand, insufficient. These families where children live in poverty need intervention today and now", pointed out the communication specialist from CCF Moldova.
In the context of worsening poverty among children, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection places the best interest of the child at the centre of its social policies. The “ReStart” reform becomes one of the primary interventions, aiming to support over 50,000 vulnerable families across the country, a third of which include children.
By intensifying the activity of social workers, whose visits have increased tenfold, the social protection system is strengthening its presence in communities, providing personalized support and contributing to an increased sense of security.
In 2024, the poverty rate in the Republic of Moldova increased by 8% compared to 2019, and amounted to 33%. Almost 34% of young people under 18 and 43% of people over 60 live in absolute poverty.
