UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that if present developments proceed, “two-thirds of the world’s poor will live in conflict-affected or fragile countries by 2030.”
“Sustainable peace requires sustainable development,” Guterres stated on the Security Council‘s open debate on the “Maintenance of International Peace and Security.”
He careworn that “the flames of conflict are too often lit and fed by persistent poverty and growing inequalities,” including that “Poverty breeds despair. Despair fuels unrest. And unrest tears at the fabric of societies, feeding mistrust, fear and violence.”
Guterres famous that “it’s no coincidence that nine of the 10 countries with the lowest Human Development Indicators are currently in a state of conflict,” and pointed to the size of the disaster, by saying that “40% of the 700 million people living in extreme poverty live in conflict-affected or fragile settings.”
He warned that the scenario is deteriorating with “rampant geopolitical mistrust and divisions,” a slowing world financial system and rising commerce tensions.
“Aid budgets are being slashed while military spending soars,” Guterres added.
“The world is falling short by over $4 trillion annually in the resources developing countries need to deliver on these promises by 2030,” he stated.
He urged motion to sort out unsustainable debt and revamp world monetary methods, and affirmed that “prevention is the best cure for instability and conflict.”
“There is no better preventive measure than investing in development,” he stated. “Peace is not built in conference rooms.”
“Peace is built when people have hope, opportunity and a genuine stake in their future. Investing in development today means investing in a more peaceful tomorrow,” he added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr