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Estimates for 2009 say lower economic growth rates will trap 46 million more people on less than USD 1.25 a day than was expected prior to the ongoing global crisis. An extra 53 million will stay trapped on less than USD 2 a day, the new World Bank research says.
This is on top of the 130 to 155 million people pushed into poverty in 2008 because of soaring food and fuel prices.
Besides, the economic downturn will significantly retard progress in reducing infant mortality. Preliminary estimates for 2009 to 2015 forecast that an average 200,000 to 400,000 more children a year or a total of 1.4 to 2.8 million, may die if the crisis persists.
These forecasts highlight the serious threat to the achievement of the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which set specific targets by 2015 to overcome poverty.
"The global economic crisis threatens to become a human crisis in many developing countries unless they can take targeted measures to protect vulnerable people in their communities," said World Bank Group President Robert B Zoellick.
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