‘Disaster’ forecast in sub-Saharan Africa

Unless immediate steps are taken there will be a “disaster” in sub-Saharan Africa according to the UN.

The UN’s human development office report, published to coincide with a special summit on the region in New York, predicts that by 2015, the continent’s poorest countries would account for a rising share of those living in extreme poverty and of those dying before the age of five.

Kevin Watkins, director of the UN human development report office said: “The numbers speak for themselves. Business as usual will carry a high price in terms of lost lives and lost human potential for Africa.”

In addition to being the only region in the world where child mortality is increasing sub-Saharan Africa also accounts for 43 million of the 115 million children out of school.