By HANA-MARIAM TESHOME
A recent study, Jointly reported by the United Nations (UN) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), sheds light on the troubling state of global poverty.
The research highlights that over 1.1 billion people worldwide are living in acute poverty, with nearly half of this population residing in countries affected by conflict.
The study underscores the severe conditions faced by the world’s poorest, including Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which together account for nearly half of the global impoverished population.
Poverty in Ethiopia: A long Standing Challenge
In Ethiopia, a country with a population of 120 million, a staggering 86 million people—approximately 72 percent—live in poverty.
Despite economic growth reported by the government, this persistent level of poverty underscores the depth of inequality and the need for more effective strategies to address deprivation.
The findings are part of a broader report indicating that countries experiencing conflict have significantly higher levels of multidimensional poverty, which includes deprivations in areas such as nutrition, electricity, sanitation, and education.
The situation in Ethiopia mirrors broader trends across sub-Saharan Africa, where 83.2 percent of the world’s poorest live.
In Ethiopia, poverty is intertwined with both economic factors and social challenges, including limited access to basic services.
As the global community continues to grapple with poverty alleviation, Ethiopia’s case highlights the pressing need for targeted interventions that address both economic growth and social inequalities.
The Global Picture: Poverty and Conflict
The study points out that the world’s poorest populations are increasingly concentrated in countries plagued by conflict.
Countries like India, with the highest number of impoverished individuals at 234 million, and Pakistan with 93 million, are experiencing economic difficulties
Conflict exacerbates poverty by disrupting livelihoods, displacing millions, and limiting access to essential services such as clean water, education, and healthcare.
This, in turn, results in severe disparities in living conditions, nutrition, and overall well-being.
The research further highlights that children are disproportionately affected by poverty, with 584 million children living in extreme poverty, representing 27.9 percent of all children worldwide.
In conflict settings, child mortality rates are eight times higher than in peaceful regions, underlining the devastating toll that violence and instability have on the younger population.
The UNDP’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) takes a comprehensive approach to measuring poverty, going beyond income to include factors like access to housing, sanitation, nutrition, and education.
This method reveals a more delicate understanding of poverty, showing that many people in conflict zones experience not just economic hardship but also severe deprivation in these essential areas.
The MPI’s findings call for a holistic approach to poverty reduction that includes both economic and social interventions.
For example, in Afghanistan, nearly two-thirds of the population lives in poverty, with an additional 5.3 million people falling into poverty between 2015-2023.
The country’s ongoing conflict has further deepened the poverty crisis, making recovery more difficult.
The Need for Peace and Investment
The report emphasizes the urgent need for global efforts to address both poverty and conflict.
As Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI (Oxford Poverty And Human Development Intiative), points out, “poverty reduction is slower in conflict settings – so the poor in conflict settings are being left behind.”
To end poverty, the international community must not only invest in economic development but also in peacebuilding.
Conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts are integral to breaking the cycle of poverty, particularly in regions where war and instability prevail.
The findings urge policymakers to recognize the link between conflict and poverty and to prioritize peace as part of any sustainable development strategy.
Without addressing the root causes of conflict and investing in long-term peace, poverty reduction efforts will remain slow and uneven.
The UN and Oxford report paints a grim picture of global poverty, with 86 million Ethiopians and millions more in conflict-affected countries trapped in a cycle of deprivation.
The study emphasizes the multidimensional nature of poverty, highlighting that economic growth alone is insufficient to lift people out of poverty.
To make meaningful progress, the global community must focus on both poverty alleviation and conflict resolution.
Only through integrated efforts that promote peace and inclusive development can the world hope to tackle the challenge of extreme poverty and improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations.