Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli occupation forces issue a new bombing threat against civilian buildings in the Southern Lebanese towns of Borj Qalaouiye and Chehabiyeh.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Extending the snapback mechanism deadline will test how independent Europeans truly are from the US.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Activating the snapback mechanism will nullify the Cairo Agreement, shut the door on cooperation between the IAEA and Tehran, and bar inspections.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The diplomatic window remains open, but signs of activating the snapback sanctions mechanism on Iran are increasing.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Although the Cairo Agreement meets an important part of European demands, they have begun speaking of new conditions in recent communications.
Sources to Al Mayadeen: European countries show no independence in their stance toward Iran during the talks.
Israeli occupation forces issued bombing threats to bomb civilian buildings in Southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Person behind shooting operation at Allenby Crossing is a Jordanian Army soldier.
Israeli media citing Emergency Services: Both wounded in Allenby shooting operation now dead.
Israeli media: One soldier wounded at Allenby crossing now confirmed killed.

1.1 billion people, 500 million+ children live in acute poverty: UNDP

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Oct 2024 08:46
5 Min Read

The report, led by the UNDP, reveals that almost half of those impacted by poverty live in warring countries and conflict zones.

Listen
  • x
  • Palestinian children line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (AP)
    Palestinian children line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (AP)

Over a billion people are living in acute poverty across the globe, with more than half of those impacted being children, a United Nations Development Program report published on Thursday revealed. 

The report was a collaboration between the UNDP, Oxford Poverty, and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), and affirmed that poverty rates were three times higher in war-ridden countries, given that in 2023, the world has seen the most conflicts and wars since World War II. 

The methodology of the report is similar to those released since 2010 by the UNDP and OPHI, which examine data from 112 countries with a collective population of 6.3 billion people. Factors of study include the lack of adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition and school attendance. 

Yanchun Zhang, the chief statistician at the UNDP, commented on the results of the paper, saying, "The 2024 MPI paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion people endure multidimensional poverty, of which 455 million live in the shadow of conflict."

Speaking to AFP, Zhang added that poor communities in war-affected countries make the struggle for basic needs "a far harsher and more desperate battle." 

According to the findings, 584 million children are suffering of acute poverty, accounting to 27.9% children globally, compared to 13.5% of adults. The report further found that poverty rates are substantially centered in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia, making for 83.2% of the world's poorest people.

Sabina Alkire, the director of the OPHI, also told AFP that conflicts obstruct efforts for poverty reduction, saying, "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."

"This points to a stark but unavoidable challenge to the international community to both zero in on poverty reduction and foster peace, so that any ensuing peace actually endures," Alkire added. 

India had the highest number of people living in extreme poverty, affecting 234 million of its 1.4 billion population. Following India were Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Together, these five nations represented nearly half of the 1.1 billion individuals living in poverty globally.

The horrific case of Gaza

Related News

Death chases Israeli troops to Jordan; 2 killed in border shooting

Gaza toll tops 65,000 as Israeli strikes kill 79 in 24 hours

The implications of poverty include malnourishment, malnutrition, and starvation, which take a particular toll on children. 

As the genocide continues in Gaza, a Washington Post report on Monday detailed the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, as the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) intensify their aggression on the Strip.

The report shed light on the emerging strategy reportedly being employed by "Israel", described as a "surrender or starve" approach, which has drawn international condemnation.

The IOF have encircled the Jabalia refugee camp and issued evacuation orders to approximately 400,000 residents in northern Gaza, directing them South to already overcrowded and bombarded areas.

While the Israeli occupation government has not officially confirmed adopting the strategy, reports indicate that parts of it are being implemented.

Humanitarian groups have raised concerns over the tactic, with Doctors Without Borders warning that thousands of people are trapped in the Jabalia camp, facing starvation and being targeted by IOF.

In September, UNICEF’s Director of Child Nutrition and Development, Victor Aguayo, stated, “We estimate that well over 50,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition and need lifesaving treatment, now.”

His comments follow warnings from the UN’s food agencies, FAO and WFP, which have called the situation in Gaza “one of the most severe food and nutrition crises in history.”

“It’s important to remember that nearly half of Gaza’s population who are suffering this devastation are children,” Aguayo emphasized.

Reflecting on his recent visit to Gaza, he said, “I saw how months of war on civilians and severe restrictions to humanitarian response have led to a collapse of the food, health, and protection systems, with catastrophic consequences for children’s nutrition.”

Aguayo noted that young children’s diets are “extremely poor", with “over 90 percent of them eating at best two types of food per day – day in, day out – for weeks and months in a context of toxic stress and lack of access to safe water and sanitation.”

He also warned that “the risk of famine and a large-scale severe nutrition crisis in Gaza is real,” adding, “There is only one way to prevent it: we need a ceasefire, immediately, and with a ceasefire, sustained and large-scale humanitarian access to the entire Gaza Strip.”

Read more: OMCT: Naval blockade contributes to the starvation of Yemenis

  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Poverty
  • Africa
  • Israel
  • UNDP
  • acute poverty
  • Gaza
  • South Asia

Most Read

Why is Choose Love using a firm with British and US intelligence connections to run a pro-Palestine musical event? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Together for Palestine: Troubling questions about the organisers of this huge event

  • Opinion
  • 17 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Hezbollah supporter who lost his sight in a pager attack carried out by "Israel" on Sept. 17, 2024, covers his eyes with a red headband inscribed with the name "Hussein" during Ashoura, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'We Have Recovered': Lebanon marks 1st anniversary of Pager Attack

The Arab neighborhood of El Za'im, on the outskirts of east Occupied Al-Quds in the West Bank, near where Israeli government says housing units will be built as part of the E1 settlement project, Thursday, August 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Palestine

'Israel’s' deliberate policies drive West Bank economy toward collapse

Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Politics

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder resigns over parent company curbing activism

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll
US & Canada

Trump’s approval rating falls to new low in second term: Poll

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS