BEIRUT, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Many Arab countries are falling behind in tackling multidimensional poverty, with progress described as slow, uneven, and in some cases stalled, according to a new UN report released Tuesday.
The ESCWA policy brief, "Multidimensional Poverty Reduction: An Unfinished Mission in Several Arab Countries," highlighted minimal gains in Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia over the past decade in education, health, nutrition, and access to basic services. Rural populations remain hardest hit, with poor educational outcomes the main driver of deprivation.
Yemen faces the region's most severe crisis, with multidimensional poverty hovering around 38 percent amid conflict, economic collapse, climate shocks, and restricted humanitarian access. Half the population suffers from severe food insecurity, and millions are displaced. Mauritania also reports widespread poverty, affecting more than half its population in 2021.
"Progress in the Arab region has been far too slow," said Khalid Abu Ismail, ESCWA's lead author. "Unless countries close gaps in education, nutrition, and basic services, millions will remain trapped in cycles of deprivation."
The report called for domestic reforms and renewed international support. Middle-income countries should expand inclusive education, social safety nets, and digital access. Less developed states should focus on sanitation, energy, and tools like digital banking and microfinance. Yemen, the report noted, also requires peacebuilding and sustained aid to restore governance and basic services.
"The mission of reducing multidimensional poverty is not yet complete," Abu Ismail said. "Governments and the global community must act urgently to ensure everyone in the region has access to the essentials for a dignified life." ■
