many have already felt the blow that caused their purses and pockets the invasion of coronavirus. And at the global level, the pandemic may reverse a decade of progress in reducing poverty in the world – to such conclusion came the authors of the UN study.
According to a new study, conducted with the support of the United Nations, the pandemic coronavirus could throw the fight to reduce world poverty by 8-10 years ago.
according to the Independent, in its most conservative model, the researchers found that at least 131 million people could be in not receiving monetary forms of poverty in 70 countries, if not to prevent or reverse the expected increase in hunger.
This figure will increase to 413-547 million, if half of the children will face constant obstacles with studying in the course of this year. More than 60 percent of the world’s children still do not attend school, and in April the number of closures reached a peak of 91%.
Despite these dire predictions, the authors of “multidimensional poverty Index 2020,” they write that “strong hope that this will not happen”, and “progress is possible”.
One of the authors of the Index, which is used by countries and experts worldwide in an effort to measure and promote the reduction of poverty, Director of the Oxford initiative of poverty and human development Professor Sabine Alkire indicates observations of economist Amartya Sen about the fact that life expectancy in the UK rose much faster during the Second world war than in the previous decade, which it largely explains the systems of food regulation.
Published this week index 2020 also shows that of the 75 countries surveyed, Sierra Leone was faced with the most rapid reduction in multidimensional poverty at a time when the nation struggled with the Ebola crisis.
For four years, starting in 2013, the multidimensional poverty indicator of people experiencing multiple deprivation in health, education and standard of living sharply declined from 74 to 58 percent, while the biggest changes were associated with the use of electricity and clean fuels for cooking.
“What a horrible was a tragedy, it has not led to widespread poverty, the report says. – Emergency situations in the field of public health demand rapid response times and human error, and tragedy seems inevitable. Despite this, the example of Sierra Leone shows that it is possible to reduce interrelated deprivations multidimensional poverty during the epidemic.”
the report, which referred to the progress made in the decade since the establishment the index also found that in 65 of the 75 countries surveyed, “significantly” reduce the levels of multidimensional poverty.
According to the report, in India, where there was the biggest decline over the past decade, about 273 million people out of multidimensional poverty. In China between 2010 and 2014, about 70 million people escape multidimensional poverty. In Bangladesh, this number decreased by 19 million between 2014 and 2019.
Before the start of the pandemic in 47 countries were on track to reduce poverty by half between 2015 and 2030 – while maintaining the observed trends. But 18 countries, including some of the poorest, was not this trend.
the report States that of the 1.3 billion people living in conditions of multidimensional poverty, more than 80 per cent are deprived of at least five of the ten indicators used.
At least 40 per cent live in South Asia and another large part resides in the countries of Africa South of the Sahara. However, in addition to Sierra Leone, six other countries of Africa South of the Sahara are among the ten fastest growing countries, along with côte d’ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe.
About 107 million people with multiple vulnerabilities, older than 60 years, the researchers noted as especially important data during a pandemic COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is the latest crisis that hit the globe, and climate change almost guarantees that it will soon be followed by a new, – said the Director of the Office of human development reports Pedro conceição. Each of them has a different impact on the poor. More than ever, we need to work to combat poverty and its vulnerability in all its forms.”
Professor Alkire says that “multidimensional poverty Index”, with its information about the level and composition of poverty provides the data necessary to accurately determine where and how poverty manifests itself: “Without this policy, I can not understand how and where to plan resources and interventions”.
“Covid-19 has a profound effect on landscape development. But that data obtained prior to the pandemic is a message of hope, says Professor Alkire. – Past success stories on how to cope with the many challenges people face poverty in their daily lives, can show how best to restore and improve the lives of millions of people.”
