UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned Thursday that failing to act
to halt the global economic crisis could lead to widespread
social unrest and failed states, ahead of the G20 crisis summit
here.
"What began as a financial crisis has become a global
economic crisis," the UN secretary general wrote in an
article in the Guardian newspaper.
"I fear worse to come -- a full-blown political crisis defined by growing social unrest, weakened governments and angry publics who have lost all faith in their leaders and their own future."
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He said the global economic downturn affected the poorest countries the most, and noted that in these countries "things fall apart alarmingly fast".
"Unless we build a worldwide recovery we face a looming catastrophe in human development," Ban wrote.
