Exposed countries; those in the central shaded area are most exposed to poverty risks

Source: The World Bank

Sharply lower economic growth rates will significantly retard progress in reducing infant mortality. Preliminary estimates for 2009 to 2015 forecast that an average 200,000 to 400,000 more children a year, a total of 1.4 to 2.8 million, may die if the crisis persists.

New estimates for 2009 suggest that lower economic growth rates will trap 46 million more people on less than $1.25 a day than was expected prior to the crisis. An extra 53 million will stay trapped on less than $2 a day. This is on top of the 130-155 million people pushed into poverty in 2008 because of soaring food and fuel prices.

Comment: In this time when we are worried about people in our own country, there is a moral imperative to recognize the plight of those in poor nations is worse and deteriorating. JAD