The United Nations has revealed that about 800 million people across the globe continue to live in extreme poverty.
The disclosure was contained in a message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to participants at the Global Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development held in Beijing.
“800 million people – women, children and men – from remote rural communities to densely populated urban slums, still live in conditions of extreme poverty,” the message said.
Guterres warned that ongoing conflicts, climate change, widening inequality, and mounting debt pressures are worsening living conditions for vulnerable populations around the world.
He urged governments to prioritise investment in decent employment opportunities, quality healthcare and education, sustainable rural development, and comprehensive social protection systems.
The UN chief also highlighted the need for reforms to the global financial system, stressing that developing nations require greater financial resources and fiscal flexibility to fund development initiatives. He further called for stronger international support and broader representation for developing countries on the global stage.
