The pandemic will continue to have repercussions for decades to come. To date, around 6.7 million children and young people worldwide under the age of 18 (up to October 31, 2021 it was around 5.2 million) have become orphans or half-orphans as a result of Covid-19 or have lost close relatives who care for them. This was the result of a model calculation that has now appeared in a specialist publication in the “Lancet”. In Austria, at least 620 adolescents are likely to be affected.
Almost six million deaths from Covid-19 have already been registered worldwide. “We estimate that for every person who has died in the context of the pandemic, one child is left behind as an orphan or after the loss of a caregiver. That means a child gets into a situation every six seconds, for life Having disadvantages if help is not provided adequately and quickly,” first author Susan Hills was quoted as saying by the “Lancet” in a broadcast. She did the modeling at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/Atlanta). Scientists from Imperial College in London were also involved.
The model calculation in the publication updates an estimate made last year with updated data up to the end of October 2021. According to this, there were around 5.2 million children and young people under the age of 18 worldwide at that time who had become full or half orphans as a result of Covid-19 or they had lost close relatives (e.g. grandparents) who were caring for them. According to Juliette Unwin from the British Imperial College, ongoing estimates show that by January 2022, 6.7 million of these indirect Covid 19 victims will already be living among adolescents worldwide.
Although by the end of October 2021 almost 500,000 children under the age of four were affected and five to nine year olds (740,000 worldwide) were also often indirect victims of the pandemic, ten to 17 year olds with 2.1 million made up the majority of the victims is the most commonly affected age group. Between May 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021, the total number of affected children and adolescents had doubled.
Adolescents who live with the loss of at least one parent or a relative who cares for them carry a great burden: an increased risk of later poverty, exploitation, sexual violence or sexual abuse, HIV infection, mental illness and social disadvantage. The scientists are calling on those responsible worldwide to take appropriate aid measures for children and young people who have lost their relatives due to Covid-19.
The model calculation also shows updated data for Austria: According to this, around 620 children in Austria are likely to be affected by the loss of at least one parent or grandparents in the household due to Covid-19. Around 390 children and young people lost one or both parents. 420 Adolescents mourn the loss of their mother and/or father or grandparents who care for them.