World Bank warns of deteriorating conditions in 39 fragile states amid rising conflicts

Washington: The World Bank warned of worsening conditions in the world s most conflict affected and fragile countries, where crises are becoming incre...

Washington: The World Bank warned of worsening conditions in the world's most conflict-affected and fragile countries, where crises are becoming increasingly deadly and frequent.

In a comprehensive study of 39 countries classified as fragile and conflict-affected since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Bank found that economic stagnation has become the norm in these regions. Since 2020, the 39 countries, stretching from Marshall Islands in the Pacific to Mozambique in sub-Saharan Africa, experienced an average annual decline of 1.8% in per capita economic output. In contrast, other developing economies grew at an average rate of 2.9% annually over the same period.

The study highlighted that more than 420 million people in these fragile economies live on less than $3 a day, well below the poverty line. This figure represents the largest concentration of extreme poverty globally, despite the fact that these 39 countries account for less than 15% of the world’s population.

The report also noted that many of these nations face long-standing challenges, including crumbling infrastructure, weak governance, and poor education systems. On average, individuals in these countries receive only six years of schooling - three years less than the average in other low- and middle-income countries. Life expectancy is five years shorter, and infant mortality rates are twice as high.

Among the 39 countries, 21 are currently experiencing active conflict, including Ukraine, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Gaza Strip. The study pointed out that in countries embroiled in high-intensity conflict, defined as those with more than 150 conflict-related deaths per million people, their economies contract by a cumulative 20% within five years of the conflict's onset. As conflicts escalate, hunger rises in tandem.