BISHKEK (24.kg news agency) – “The level of poverty in Kyrgyzstan will continue to grow,” Pradeep Sharma, UNDP Kyrgyzstan Deputy Resident Representative, stated at today’s meeting with President Almazbek Atambayev.

Pradeep Sharma, UNDP Acting Deputy Country Director
(Photo: UNDP/Martine Perret)

According to him, in 2009 31% of the population lived below the poverty level while in 2011 this figure rose to 37%. “In Talas and Naryn up to 50% of the citizens live in poverty. About 10% of the population leave the country because of unemployment. Without remittances of migrant workers, the poverty level would amount to 43%,” Pradeep Sharma said.

He added that most likely, it won’t be possible to reduce the poverty level to 28% as it was stated in the Social Development Strategy for 2012-2014.

As it was noted during the meeting, Kyrgyzstan will not reach the Millennium Development Goals, in particular, the reduction to the required level of infant and maternal mortality.