United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed that Nigeria is among the countries struggling with severe poverty.
Gatekeepers News reports that UNDP in a report released on Thursday, revealed that over one billion people worldwide are living in acute poverty, with children accounting for more than half of those affected in the country.
The report which was published in collaboration with Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) emphasised that poverty rates are significantly higher in conflict-affected countries.
2024 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), an annual report since 2010, provided insights based on data from 112 countries, covering a population of 6.3 billion people.
It evaluated poverty using various indicators, including inadequate housing, lack of sanitation, limited access to electricity and cooking fuel, poor nutrition, and low school attendance.
UNDP’s chief statistician, Yanchun Zhang said, “The 2024 MPI paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion people endure multidimensional poverty, of which 455 million live in the shadow of conflict.”
He emphasised the desperate situation for those in war-torn regions, saying, “For the poor in conflict-affected countries, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle.”
The report stated that Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home to majority of the world’s poorest, with these regions accounting for 83.2 per cent of those in extreme poverty.
Children under 18 represent a disproportionate share of those suffering, with 584 million, 27.9 per cent of the global child population—living in extreme poverty, compared to 13.5 per cent of adults.
OPHI director, Sabina Alkire also said that conflicts pose a significant barrier to reducing poverty.
She said, “At some level, these findings are intuitive. But what shocked us was the sheer magnitude of people who are struggling to live a decent life and at the same time fearing for their safety –- 455 million.”
Alkire called on the international community to address both poverty reduction and peace-building.
She said, “This points to a stark but unavoidable challenge… to zero in on poverty reduction and foster peace, so that any ensuing peace actually endures.”
India was listed among the top countries affected with 234 million people in extreme poverty, followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. The five nations account for nearly half of the 1.1 billion people living in acute poverty globally.
