Brazil's growing poverty problem... 2 million households fall into extreme poverty in two and a half years

In Brazil, at least two million households have fallen into extreme poverty since the inauguration of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Based on the Brazilian government data, the extreme poor refers to households with a per capita monthly income of 89 reais (about 19,770 won) or less, and most of them are homeless or live in shacks and worry about food all the time.

According to UOL, a Brazilian news portal, citing federal government data, the number of people living in extreme poverty had risen from 12.7 million in December 2018, just before the Bolsonaro government took office, to 14.7 million as of the end of June this year, two and a half years later, It was reported on the 26th (local time) that this number reached 41.1 million in terms of the population.

In addition, about 2.8 million people have a per capita income of 90 to 178 real (about 19,990 to 39,540 won), so it is understood that there is a high possibility of falling into extreme poverty.

In some large cities, including São Paulo, the government's social protection programs are not working properly, so donations from residents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are helping the poorest, the UOL said.

Experts pointed out that "the prolonged economic downturn and the continued increase in the number of unemployed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis are contributing to the increase in the number of people living in extreme poverty."

Amid soaring fuel and food prices, the inflation rate is expected to exceed 8% this year, and the number of unemployed is approaching 15 million.

Dissatisfaction with Bolsonaro's government is growing due to rising inflation and rising unemployment.

In the most recent opinion poll, the evaluation of Bolsonaro's government performance was positive at 22%, average at 23%, and negative at 53%. When the positive evaluation of the performance of state affairs falls below 20%, it is considered to have effectively lost control of state affairs.

On the 23rd, members of civic groups broke into the São Paulo Stock Exchange to protest against high prices, high unemployment, and the spread of hunger.