The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could have economic and social repercussions well beyond the region. According to a recent analysis by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), tens of millions of people worldwide risk slipping into poverty.
According to estimates, nearly 32 million individuals in 162 countries could be affected by the indirect consequences of this war, notably due to the surge in energy and food prices.
If the countries directly involved in the fighting bear the most immediate impacts, the long-term effects could also weigh heavily on economies farther afield, particularly those with limited financial resources.
The report notes that the most vulnerable nations face hard choices, having to balance the need to contain current inflation with the need to invest in essential sectors such as health, education, and employment.
