Poverty among children: southern regions in critical conditions

Madagascar has 10 million of children below the age of 18, with more than 8 million living under the poverty line. During the period 2005-2010, there was a sharp degradation in financial poverty, especially among the children below the age of 18, with figures going from 76.6% to 82%. Generally, the majority of Malagasy children are severely deprived of their fundamental rights in terms of nutrition, health, education, housing, water and sanitation and security.

However, the case of poverty among children is much more acute in some southern regions of Madagascar where more than 65% of under-18 children are very poor. These regions include Androy, the South-east and South-west regions and Ihorombe. The results of the survey conducted on poverty, especially in the south, were officially presented on November 13, in Toliara. UNICEF, the University of Toliara and Antananarivo collaborated in conducting the survey and disseminating its results.