AKIPRESS.COM - A report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that approximately 32 million people worldwide are at risk of falling below the poverty line due to the economic repercussions of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The ongoing crisis threatens millions across 162 countries, with those in the Persian Gulf, Asia, Africa, and small island states facing the highest risk.

UNDP experts note that the conflict is shifting from an acute to a protracted phase, which significantly heightens the danger of accelerated poverty in vulnerable nations as they struggle with rising energy and food costs.

UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo emphasized that war acts as "development in reverse," destroying years of progress in a matter of weeks and forcing poorer countries to choose between price stabilization and essential funding for healthcare and education.

To mitigate these impacts, the organization recommends implementing targeted, temporary cash transfers for low-income families—which could require up to $6 billion—as well as vouchers for basic energy consumption.

Conversely, the report cautions against universal energy subsidies, noting that they disproportionately benefit the wealthy and are financially unsustainable for developing economies in the long term.