But he ended up homeless, struggling in dire poverty in 2009.

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Many of the children grew up in dire poverty.

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Moreover, the money goes to workers who are already relatively well off, rather than to the 40% of South Africans who are without a job, many of them living in dire poverty.

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"If they thought they had to leave their people in really dire poverty or tackle climate change then it would be very hard to persuade them that they should take action, " she added.

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"Under most scenarios -- except the most dire -- significant strides in reducing extreme poverty will be achieved by 2030, " the report notes.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

"He has changed the lives dramatically of the majority of Venezuelans, he's altered the country forever, his policies have reduced poverty more than half and have brought people out of dire circumstances (who) today enjoy a decent standard of living, " Golinger said.

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