Sydney, June 11 (RHC)-- The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) says the shock of the coronavirus will fuel poverty and unrest for years to come, undoing decades of progress in socio-economic development.

The Australian-based think tank says the countries that will suffer the most will be those that are politically-fragile whose economies are generally less robust.  "The worst is still to come," said Steve Killelea, the head of the IEP at the launch of its annual Global Peace Index.

IEP says heavily-indebted countries will find it hard to get the money they need to rebuild their economies once lockdowns are relaxed, raising the risk of riots and unrest. Cuts in overseas aid could also hurt countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan.