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UNICEF report: Millions of children left behind through millennium goals

By Andrew V. Pestano
In Uganda, children play at the Child Friendly Space (CFS) in Ayillo 2 refugee settlement in Pakelle sub- County Adjumani district. A total of 22 Child Friendly Space (CFS) centers were built in conjunction with ECD centers across the three districts (Arua, Adjumani and Kiryandongo) since 2014 while other items were also provided such as recreational and indoor and outdoor materials for structured play to the children. These centers are providing psycho-social activities to refugee children. Photo courtesy of UNICEF
1 of 3 | In Uganda, children play at the Child Friendly Space (CFS) in Ayillo 2 refugee settlement in Pakelle sub- County Adjumani district. A total of 22 Child Friendly Space (CFS) centers were built in conjunction with ECD centers across the three districts (Arua, Adjumani and Kiryandongo) since 2014 while other items were also provided such as recreational and indoor and outdoor materials for structured play to the children. These centers are providing psycho-social activities to refugee children. Photo courtesy of UNICEF

NEW YORK, June 23 (UPI) -- Although significant progress has been made through the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, unequal opportunities have left millions of children in poverty, according to a UNICEF report.

About six million children die every year before their fifth birthday and about 58 million children do not go to primary school, according to UNICEF.

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"The [Millennium Development Goals] helped the world realize tremendous progress for children -- but they also showed us how many children we are leaving behind," UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said in a statement. "The lives and futures of the most disadvantaged children matter -- not only for their own sake, but for the sake of their families, their communities and their societies."

UNICEF created estimates based on current development progress and projected population growth:

• 68 million more children under five will die from mostly preventable causes by 2030. • An estimated 119 million children will still be chronically malnourished in 2030. • Half a billion people will still be defecating in the open, posing serious risks to children's health in 2030. • It will take almost 100 years for all girls from sub-Saharan Africa's poorest families to complete their lower secondary education.

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In 2000, the U.N. established eight Millennium Development Goals to reach in 15 years, including having extreme poverty rates, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education.

According to UNICEF, the goals did create positive results:

• Under-five mortality dropped by more than half, from 90 per 1,000 live births to 43 per 1,000 live births. • Underweight and chronic malnutrition among children under five decreased by 42 percent and 41 percent, respectively. • Maternal mortality decreased by 45 percent. • About 2.6 billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources.

But "the global community will fail millions of children if it does not focus on the most disadvantaged in its new 15-year development roadmap" called the Sustainable Development Goals, which in part hope to build and continue previous successes.

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