UNDP Warns Over Two-Thirds of Myanmar's Population Living in Deep Poverty and Highly Vulnerable

UNDP warns that more than two-thirds of Myanmar's population is mired in poverty and highly vulnerable

October 9

In Myanmar, 32.6 percent of the population (about 17.9 million people) is suffering severe multidimensional deprivation, while another 19.5 million people face the risk of falling into poverty, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in a statement dated October 8.

This means more than two-thirds of Myanmar's population is currently either experiencing deprivation or facing an extremely high likelihood of falling into poverty.

The UNDP report, titled "Layers of Deprivation: Multidimensional Poverty in Myanmar," states that poverty was studied and analyzed not by income alone but from multiple perspectives, examining the extent of deprivation in health, education and everyday living standards.

According to the report, more than 80 percent of multidimensional poverty in Myanmar is linked to inadequate healthcare and deficiencies in basic living standards.

The report states that people, in particular, face daily struggles with problems such as lack of access to healthcare, absence of adequate and suitable housing, lack of clean drinking water and sanitation systems, and lack of access to other essential basic social services.

Based on nationwide household data collection and study, the report also says poverty levels differ significantly by region and by social group.

The report states that as armed conflict, displacement and economic and social shocks compound on top of long-standing underlying vulnerabilities, poverty has become deeper and more difficult to resolve.

The report says that because this UNDP report identifies not only the areas where poverty is most prevalent but also the depth of poverty and its underlying causes, it will serve as an important aid for more precisely and effectively implementing Myanmar's recovery efforts, efforts to strengthen people's resilience, and poverty reduction work.

Ref & Photo: UNDP

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