Due to the coronavirus that has claimed more than 25 thousand victims since its appearance in the country in March 2020, more than 600 thousand Tunisians have fallen into poverty.

According to World Bank estimates of June 2021, the pandemic is responsible for the increase to 21 % of the poverty rate against 15.5 % with its appearance.

Tunisia’s anti-poverty strategy is based on short-term financial aid and only vaguely addresses the real causes of poverty.

Programmes to combat poverty have multiplied without focusing on the root causes of the problem. The latest one was the payment of allowances, with funding from the World Bank, to more than 700 thousand poor families. In total, more than 2 million 500 thousand Tunisians live below the poverty line.

On the occasion of the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, celebrated on October 17 of each year, Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Gutteres stressed the need for solidarity to combine efforts “to end poverty and create a world of justice, dignity and opportunity for all.

The UN S-G, who referred to the inequality in access to vaccines, at the great peril of millions of people in the world, advocates tackling the debt overhang and ensuring that investments are made in the countries that need them most.

He emphasized the need for political will and stronger partnerships to achieve universal social protection by 2030 and to invest in the reconversion of jobs for the growing green economy.

Pointing to the gender poverty gap, Guterres called for economic investments to be targeted more at women entrepreneurs.

Source: Tap News Agency