Covid pandemic made poorest countries even worse off, World Bank warns

Poverty reduction drive all but halted across many nations as Bank calls for more money to tackle a ‘great reversal’

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The devastating impact of the pandemic on the world’s poorest countries has brought poverty reduction to a halt and led to a widening income gap with nations in the rich west, the World Bank has warned.

In a report released to coincide with its half-yearly meeting, the Washington-based organisation said half of the world’s 75 poorest nations had seen income per head rise more slowly than in developed countries over the past five years.