Belarus + 1 more
Excerpt
IFRC NETWORK ACTION IN 2023
Joint situational analysis
Belarus
The Belarusian economy remains highly vulnerable and depends on trade relations with neighbouring countries, especially Russia, which is the largest trading partner. In 2020–2022, despite being in the top 20 European countries with the highest COVID-19 incidence, Belarus has not introduced any lockdown measures. However, many private businesses had to stop their activities and some enterprises reduced production, which led to increasing unemployment and loss of incomes. Fifty per cent of the population faced reduced incomes, especially those with a monthly income below CHF220.
After 2020, the Belarusian economy became even more vulnerable than in previous years due to COVID-19, mass actions, and deteriorating relations between Belarus and the EU, which implemented sanctions on key enterprises after the country’s presidential elections in August 2020. In May 2021, after an incident where a Ryanair flight landed in Minsk, Belarusian Airlines was banned from flying over the EU or using its airports. With the Ukrainian crisis, additional sanctions were applied, including disconnecting several banks from the SWIFT system.
The most vulnerable groups in Belarus include older people, people living with disabilities, single-parent families and those with many children or dependents, people living in rural areas, people living with diseases and others living with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Migrants and refugees are among the biggest vulnerable groups to be supported by the Belarus Red Cross.
The social and demographic development of Belarus is characterized by a steadily ageing population. According to the population census in 2019, the proportion of older people aged 65 and over was 15.2 per cent, compared with 13.8 per cent in 2010. The process is even faster in rural areas. According to demographic predictions, by 2030, the share of the older population will be more than one fifth of the population, or 21 per cent. A decrease in the birth rate and an increase in life expectancy (74.5 years in 2019) also contributes to the ageing processes.
According to the development plan of the Republic of Belarus until 2025, the main objectives are to:
As of 29 July 2022, 42,026 Ukrainian citizens had crossed the border into the Republic of Belarus, including 21,887 people through Poland, 3,625 people through Lithuania and 674 people through Latvia. The daily number of people crossing the border is 150–230, and about 800–1,000 in April 2022. The majority of people leaving Ukraine use Belarus as a transit country and continue on to the EU. According to the Ministry of Interior, 6,525 people registered, 2,203 applied for temporary residence and 1,000 people applied for permanent residence. People who stay in Belarus will require continuous support from the Belarus Red Cross.
Russia
With an area of 17 million km², the Russian Federation (Russia) is the world’s largest country, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and spanning 11 time zones. By land, Russia borders 14 countries: Poland, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. About two thirds of the country is bordered by the sea. Geographically, Russia can be divided in three vast regions: European Russia (stretching from Eastern Europe to the Ural Mountains), Siberia (from the Ural Mountains nearly all the way to the Pacific Ocean) and Russia’s Far East. Vast territories are in the subarctic zone. The climate of Russia is diverse because its territory is so wide, although the majority of it has continental or moderate continental weather conditions.
The economic development is evolving as new technologies and areas of work have been introduced. The economy is shaped by urbanization, active migration, infrastructure development of the territories, and the reshaping of commercial and business chains. Some regions lost areas of work which were dynamic in the past, other regions have adapted to the modern economic situation, and a new industrial revolution has strengthened their positions. An 18 per cent inflation rate is predicted by the Bank of Russia by the end of 2022. Food prices in Russia have been rising faster than overall prices since March 2020, and even faster since March 2022, putting pressure on poor households. Between January and April 2022, prices rose by 11.67 per cent.
According to the Federal State Statistics Service, the population of Russia is 145 million people, which is the ninth highest population in the world. The demographic situation is characterized by a low birth rate, high mortality rate, an ageing population and positive migration balance. In 2021, Russia ranked 52 in the Human Development Index.
The Federal State Statistics Service indicates that, in 2021, around 16.1 million people were below the poverty rate (11 per cent of the population). In 2022, this increased to 20.9 million people (14.3 per cent of the population). The average person who is below poverty rate is aged between 46 and 48, has secondary or unfinished higher education, a low-paid job which does not require special knowledge, and health issues caused by regular, low-quality alcohol consumption. The poverty rate is growing in rural areas. Vulnerable families which include older people, minors and people living with disabilities comprise 45 per cent of all vulnerable families. Vulnerable groups include older people, children, people living with disabilities, large families, single-parent families, people affected by various emergencies, people living in rural areas and people living with communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Russia has faced several crises in recent years. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic include the deterioration of health, COVID-19-related deaths, and a decrease in economic development. During the Ukrainian crisis, unprecedented sanctions have been applied to Russia, leading to a decrease in GDP, industrial manufacturing and trade. Many international companies have left Russia, which has contributed to an increase in unemployment, a worsening quality of life, an increase in social tension and a need for psychosocial support.
By 2 August 2022, more than three million people had arrived in Russia from Ukraine, of whom 998,000 are citizens of Russia and 482,000 are children. These people require immediate support.
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