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Berlin (dpa) - The corona pandemic threatens to exacerbate social inequality in several countries at the same time.

This is the result of a report by the aid organization Oxfam, for which 295 economists from 79 countries were interviewed.

"As if under a magnifying glass, the pandemic shows the diverse forms of oppression and marginalization to which people are exposed due to their gender, sexuality, age, disability and in the wake of racism and classism," says the am Report published Monday.

According to Oxfam, 87 percent of the surveyed scientists expect income inequality in their country to rise or rise sharply as a result of the pandemic.

More than half believe that gender inequality is likely or very likely to increase and more than two-thirds believe that inequality between whites and BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) will increase.

"It is particularly alarming that two-thirds of economists think their government has no strategy to combat inequality," writes the organization.

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People in poverty are most exposed to the corona virus.

They often lived in cramped conditions, sometimes without water or sanitary facilities.

Many, especially those in the informal sector, cannot work from home.

In many countries, migrants in particular often worked in hospitality, healthcare, and other areas where infection is more likely.

These people also suffered more often from previous illnesses, which increase the risk of serious disease courses.

"The virus doesn't hit everyone alike."

The aid organization fears that the inequality will also be particularly pronounced in the global provision of corona vaccines.

A small group of wealthy nations, representing only 14 percent of the world's population, bought more than half of the supplies of the leading Covid-19 vaccine candidates.

If there were no price caps, people living in poverty would have no chance of vaccination, while pharmaceutical companies continued to make high profits.

The corona pandemic must be a wake-up call to "finally get to the roots of extreme inequality and poverty," said Oxfam.

Among other things, this requires social security systems that are accessible to everyone and a greater focus on the common good of the economy.

"Corporations and the super-rich must now make their fair contribution to overcome the crisis," says Tobias Hauschild from Oxfam Germany.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210125-99-156913 / 2

Communication from Oxfam

Oxfam report (German)