an underbelly of poverty（回答）

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A British debt counsellor invited to take part in a social justice panel discussion at the Parachute Christian Music Festival says he has seen an underbelly of poverty in New Zealand that is shocking.
John Kirkby, who founded Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in the UK 15 years ago which has expanded into Australia and New Zealand, said he was always careful not to label something "the worst".
"But there are things I have seen in Australia and New Zealand . . ." he said. "Sixty seven per cent of our clients can't feed their kids. One third of them have contemplated suicide. It was their level of poverty . . . this is the 21st century."
underbellyは「急所，弱点，泣き所；（社会の）暗黒部分」のことですが（『オーレックス英和辞典』旺文社），LDOCEではthe unpleasant parts of a place or society that are normally hiddenと定義されています。ここでは「（貧困の）深層部分」や，後ろに続く文を意識するなら「（貧困の）実情」とでも訳せましょうか。公にはされていない貧困の根底部分をJohn Kirkbyは実際に見てきたようですが，その現実を表すのにunderbellyはピッタリな単語のようです。（Sugiuchi）