FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) warns of serious economic and social consequences from the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East, assessing in a new report that the conflict is causing a wider regional shock with significant losses to the economy, employment and stability of the region.
The model presented in the report estimates that the region's Gross Domestic Product could decrease by 3.7% to 6%, with total losses that could reach up to $194 billion. The consequences are mainly related to disruptions in international trade, energy markets and maritime transport.
A particularly significant hit is seen in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large portion of global oil trade passes. Commercial traffic has fallen by more than 70% since the escalation began, contributing to the rise in oil prices from around $72 to almost $120 per barrel.
The report also warns of severe social consequences, as up to 4 million additional people could fall into poverty. The Levant region, which includes Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, is expected to bear the brunt of the consequences.
Meanwhile, between 1.6 and 3.6 million jobs are considered at risk, with low-skilled workers facing the greatest risk of income loss, due to higher exposure to fluctuations in economic activity.
The humanitarian situation is particularly worsening in Lebanon, which has been described as a major humanitarian crisis. Almost a million people have been displaced, while more than 325 schools have been converted into temporary shelters, underscoring the scale of the social pressure caused by the conflict.
Lini një Përgjigje