The number of Ukrainians living below the poverty line is named

About nine million Ukrainians fell below the poverty line because of the war started by Russia. At the same time, the total population of Ukraine is now estimated at about 32 million people. This was stated in the report of the World Bank on Thursday, May 30, Reuters reports.

It is indicated that since 2020, the number of Ukrainians living below the poverty line has increased by 1.8 million people.

“Nearly a quarter of Ukrainians surveyed did not have enough money to buy food by June 2023,” the report said.

World Bank Regional Director for Eastern Europe Arup Banerjee said that the situation would be worse if Ukraine did not receive significant external budget support to pay old-age pensions and salaries for teachers, doctors and other categories of population.

“If international partners, especially the US, do not redirect resources specifically intended for social expenditures, there will be three million more people in poverty,” he said.

Analysts explain that the increase in poverty is related to the decrease in employment – more than a fifth of the adult population who worked before the war lost their jobs.

The report also states that 85-92% of medical clinics in Ukraine will still be fully operational in 2023, despite the Russian attack. Also, at least 89% of children aged 6 to 18 continued to attend school, and 72% of these students studied online because of the active struggle in the areas where they live.

The survey also showed that 97% of pensions for the elderly and 85% of social assistance are paid on time.

Earlier it was reported that the International Monetary Fund, during the third revision of the EFF extended financing program, updated the macro forecast for Ukraine, improving forecasts for inflation, public debt and the current account deficit.