The United Nations says over 700 million people globally find it difficult to meet their basic daily needs. This highlights how challenging it has become to fight extreme poverty across the world.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres in a message to mark the 2018 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty said “many are still being left behind”.
“Over 700 million people are unable to meet their basic daily needs. Many live in situations of conflict and crisis; others face barriers in accessing health care, education and job opportunities, preventing them from benefitting from broader economic development. And women are disproportionately affected,” Guterres added.
The UN chief on Wednesday noted that some progress has been made over the past 25 years since the fight to end poverty begun.
“Twenty-five years ago, the world commemorated the first International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since then, nearly 1 billion people have escaped poverty, thanks to political leadership, inclusive economic development and international cooperation,” he said.
Mr. Guterres also mentioned that the UN considers eradicating poverty one of its greatest goals. But he considers “Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions one of the greatest global challenges”.
In many African countries poverty is a major issue and millions have died from that. Mr. Guterres says “let us remember that ending poverty is not a matter of charity but a question of justice.
There is a fundamental connection between eradicating extreme poverty and upholding the equal rights of all people”.
The UN is hoping countries around the world will help achieve the “Goal 1 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. That goal requires eradicating poverty significantly by 2030.
Source: Africafeeds.com
