Coronavirus pandemic could create half a billion new poor people in the world, warns Oxfam.
Oxfam, an international organization working to find solutions to the problem of poverty and inequality, has just released a study warning that the coronavirus pandemic could push more than 500 million people into poverty.
247 - "The coronavirus pandemic could push more than 500 million people into poverty if governments do not act immediately to support the income and employment of entire sectors of their economies. This warning is being issued by Oxfam," writes journalist Jamil Chade in his column on UOL.
Estimates from the organization indicate that the number of people who could have a daily income below US$5,5 would increase from the current 3,38 billion to 3,9 billion. This would represent an increase of 547 million.
"In Latin America, the increase in poverty also risks becoming significant. Projections indicate that the region could see an additional 54 million people earning less than US$5,5 per day. In total, this group would grow from the current 162 million to 216 million."
"Between 6% and 8% of the world's population could be pushed below the poverty line, effectively delaying the fight against poverty by more than a decade. In some parts of the world, 30 years of development could be wasted, such as in Africa or the Middle East," writes the author. columnist.