2.7 million poor kids in Spain, UNICEF reports

The economic crisis has pushed 80,000 more Spanish children below the poverty level, according to a UNICEF report released on Tuesday. There are 2,267,000 children, or 27.2% of the population, living below the poverty level in Spain, UNICEF said, citing 2011 data by European statistics institute Eurostat. The report comes as Spanish lawmakers debate the 2013 budget, which contains more social spending cuts. ''Now more than ever we must consider the most vulnerable. Any measures undertaken, absolutely must evaluate their impact and consequences on childhood,'' said UNICEF Spain Executive Director Paloma Escudero.