NEW YORK: The UN has called for solidarity with all people living in poverty, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated annually on the 17th of October.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted how the pandemic represents “a double crisis” for the world’s poorest people in his video message. He observed that the poor have the highest risk of exposure to the virus and the least access to quality healthcare. Also, he said about recent estimates which show that the pandemic could push up to 115 million people into poverty this year which is the first increase in decades. He also mentioned that women are more at risk as they might lose jobs and have less social protection.
He called for Governments to accelerate economic transformation by investing in sustainable recovery and collective action. He added that countries need “a new generation of social protection programmes,” to protect those working in the informal economy.
The International Day was established by a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in December 1992. The theme this year is ‘Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all’.
Source: wam.ae
