Global Scans · Poverty · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Due to a deteriorating global economic outlook, more than 130 out of 189 countries will experience reduced income growth, with the average global GDP growth rate falling from 4.1 percent to 3.1 percent between 2011 and 2030. Almost all of the countries with large numbers remaining in extreme poverty in 2030 will be in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.

• [New] Given the high rates of child poverty in the UK, and the value a decent meal provides, there is evidence that free school meals for all children could provide significant benefits in England. Queen Mary University of London
• [New] New Zealand will provide $7 million in further humanitarian aid for conflict-affected communities in Ukraine, and $1 million for Ukrainians displaced in neighbouring countries. Ukraine's Arms Monitor
• [New] Mental health and many common mental disorders are shaped to a great extent by the social, economic, and physical environments in which people live and that social inequalities increase risk of many common disorders. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The UNHCR announced significant job cuts, eliminating around 3,500 positions, due to a drastic reduction in humanitarian funding, which threatens essential services for millions of refugees. Martin Plaut
• [New] The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation closed its aid distribution sites on Friday, without giving a date on when they would reopen, as Palestinians in Gaza remain at risk of extreme starvation and famine, the United Nations and other aid groups have warned. ABC News
• [New] BCG's decision to terminate its contract with GHF could have far-reaching implications for future humanitarian efforts in Gaza and similar regions. Trends Newsline
• Human suffering in Gaza is intolerable; allowing a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate; the denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Meer
• Israel will continue its efforts to expel Hamas from the West Bank by force, while it has already built infrastructure to receive future UN humanitarian aid to the local populations, controlled exclusively by the IDF. All About Shipping
• In an increasingly unstable and volatile world, it is vital to ensure the United Kingdom remains resilient in the face of potential future shocks - be they conflict overseas, threats to the UK's shores, global economic shifts or humanitarian crises. GOV.UK
• The persistent inability of humanitarian organizations to access populations in dire need of assistance, and the continued mass displacement of people, the risk of Famine in the Gaza Strip is not just possible - it is increasingly likely. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitar
• The probe in France comes as international pressure grows on Israel to increase the flow of aid into Gaza amid fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. DNyuz
• The UN and other humanitarian organizations have called for an immediate ceasefire and a safe passage for aid workers to deliver necessary supplies without the threat of violence. County Local News
• Palestinians have been given the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism. CNN
• The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. SKY
• FCDO will prioritise spending on humanitarian crises, including through continued bilateral support to Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, and contributions to key multilateral organizations. GOV.UK
• Western governments, already divided over Hamas's role, face a paradox: funding Gaza risks aiding military infrastructure, while withholding aid exacerbates humanitarian crises. Ainvest
• Israel has come under increasing international criticism over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the UN warned in May that the entire population was at risk of famine. KPVI
• Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism. Time
• Most of Gaza's two million residents are at risk of famine, exacerbated by an 11-week blockade severely limiting humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. ArabNews
• 93% of children in Gaza are at risk of famine while humanitarian aid continues to be blocked and disrupted. SenCanada
• Global aid groups have refused to cooperate, criticizing the plan for putting civilians at risk and violating humanitarian principles. The Cipher Brief
• The current surge in returns could push Afghanistan into another humanitarian crisis if immediate assistance is not provided. Ariana News
• French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that his country could apply sanctions against Israelis unless the government in Tel Aviv responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Al Jazeera

Last updated: 27 June 2025