Fifty million children are living in poverty in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, according to a new report.

The study, from the European Children's Trust, says that hunger and poverty in the countries of the former Soviet Union are now at levels approaching those in the developing world.

Within the region, the numbers of those living in poverty are more than 12 times what they were 10 years ago.

The Trust, an international development organisation, warns that with winter approaching, the situation threatens to reach crisis proportions.

Millions below breadline

The Trust says more than 168 million people were living below the bread line in 1993 to 1995, the latest available figure.

Children have been hit hard by the crisis

The Trust believes the situation is now far worse.

The proportion of the population living in poverty is as high as 88% in Kyrgyzstan and between 60 and 66% in Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Moldova.

Children become 'orphans'

The report, called The Silent Crisis, highlights the plight of children.

It warns that poverty is driving social breakdown with many families having to leave their children in state orphanages to ward off malnutrition.

Russia suffered economic meltdown in 1998

It claims a sudden relaxation of price controls, coupled with widespread privatisation of industry produced economic meltdown.

Production fell, inflation soared and the safety nets provided by the old regime simply evaporated.

The Trust suggests that rather than direct aid, the West should help the expansion of services preventing family breakdown.