KUALA LUMPUR: Women and children, especially those from low-income urban households, have been the most negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and need support urgently, a study by two United Nations bodies found. “The Covid-19 pandemic has changed all our lives but more so the lives of these lower income families, women and children, who are the focus of the study, ” said Malaysia’s United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) representative Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar. — SAMUEL ONG/The StarCommissioned in May 2020, the report described the immediate socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on 500 families with children living in Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost flats. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) programme director Karen Lai said it was crucial that the assistance provided to women and children to be easily accessible. “It is important that support measures for women and children be practical and accessible.

Source: The Star August 24, 2020 22:44 UTC