Bangladesh, July 17 -- The Middle East conflict may push 1.2 million more people into poverty in Bangladesh, according to a new report of UNICEF on Thursday. L

Up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty by the end of the year, as ongoing tensions in the Middle East and related shipping disruptions continue to have a damaging and potentially irreversible impact on children, it added.

"Across Bangladesh, the rising cost of staple foods such as rice, lentils, cooking oil, vegetables, fish and poultry, is putting increasing pressure on families, and an estimated 1.2 million more people could fall into poverty," said the UN agency.

The impact of the war in the Middle East on children in monetarily poor househol...