Resource
Fragile and conflict affected states are where the greatest needs and challenges to achieving the SDGs exist – and where 2.3 billion
people will live by 20301. The report finds that the vast majority – up to four in five – of fragile and conflicted affected states are
off-track to achieve select SDG targets by 20302. These states will be home to around 85 per cent of those remaining in extreme
poverty – some 342 million people – in 20303. Current trends in these countries indicate that undernourishment is on the rise; lack
of sanitation is expanding; the number of people living in slums will grow and early child-hood death remains endemic. By 2030, 70
per cent of under-five deaths – 2.4 million child deaths – will occur in fragile and conflict affected states4. At the same time, violent
conflicts have more than doubled since 2000 and more people have been forced to flee their homes than at any time since World
War II5. It is estimated that 152 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance and 12 of the top 15 refugee-hosting
countries are themselves considered fragile. All projections point to greater deprivation of people caught in crisis by 2030. We will
see a growing gulf in terms of people’s outcomes – their well-being and needs – between fragile countries and the rest of the world
and people caught in crisis will be even more excluded than they are now.
Behind all of these numbers is the harsh reality of disrupted lives: families without hope or a home, children out of school, young people with no jobs and poor health, struggling to survive and living in conflict or in a new country that is often already grappling with its own poverty and lack of opportunities. Conflict and crisis can have a catastrophic impact on basic services and infrastructure, from the demolition of schools and health clinics to overwhelming numbers of people relying on already stretched social services. This, in turn, can have devastating consequences for people’s lives in key areas of health and nutrition, education, freedom from violence and decent work.
