In a cramped, poorly maintained home, a Rohingya mother of three avoids stepping outside – not out of fear of violence, but arrest. Despite fleeing persecution in Myanmar, she now lives without legal protection, access to health care or the right to work. Her story is not unique. For tens of thousands, migration to Malaysia represents a final hope, only to enter a cycle of legal invisibility and daily struggle.
Malaysia hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Southeast Asia. However, the lack of a formal legal framework for refugees leaves them deeply vulnerable to poverty, exploitation and systemic neglect.
Who Comes and Why?
As of May 2025, around 200,260 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. More than 179,000 are from Myanmar, including 117,670 Rohingya, 29,620 Chin and 31,730 other ethnic minorities. They fled ethnic violence, forced displacement and persecution. Others come from more than 50 different countries, including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Iraq and Syria.
As of 2025, men make up 64% of refugees and asylum-seekers, while women account for 36%. Alarmingly, more than 50,000 are children under the age of 18, many of whom have never stepped foot inside a formal school.
Migration to Malaysia is often undertaken in desperation. Neighboring countries often turn away refugees or deny long-term protection, and many see Malaysia as a stepping stone to resettlement. However, few are successfully resettled.
Legal Status and Daily Reality
One will find that daily life is arduous for refugees in Malaysia. The country has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Malaysia does not legally recognize refugee status. Under the Immigration Act 1959/63, refugees and asylum-seekers are considered undocumented immigrants and are subject to arrest and deportation. The UNHCR issues refugee cards, but these offer no protection under Malaysian law. The consequences of this legal limbo are wide-reaching, affecting every aspect of daily life for those who experience migration to Malaysia. These include:
- Work: Refugees are prohibited from working legally. Many work in informal sectors with long hours, poor conditions, low wages and no labor protection. Without labor rights, they face wage theft, exploitation and workplace abuse, with little to no recourse.
- Education: Public schools in Malaysia do not accept refugee children. Community-based learning centers fill this gap. However, many of these centers are underfunded, overcrowded and unrecognized by the government.
- Health Care: Refugees do not qualify for subsidized public health care. While some clinics treat UNHCR cardholders, the costs remain prohibitive for many. Many often delay treatment or avoid seeking care altogether due to financial constraints and fear of arrest.
Civil Society Response
In the absence of formal state protection, civil society and humanitarian organizations play a crucial role in supporting those migration to Malaysia affects. ElShaddai, which is based in Klang, provides education and health care to refugee families. In 2022, there were 18 ElShaddai learning centers located in Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang and Sabah serving 1,400 children from marginalized communities. Today, the organization operates more than 20 learning centers across Malaysia to provide preschool to diploma-level education.
Founded in 1991, Tenaganita is a Malaysian human rights organization that supports refugees through legal aid, psychosocial counseling and community empowerment. Its Refugee Action Program works with eight Burmese-led refugee groups to assist in wage negotiation, education access and protection from detention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization coordinated relief efforts that reached more than 2,200 families in more than 100 locations across the Klang Valley.
The Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) supports refugees through its food aid and social service programs, including education, psychological counseling and skills training. As of now, MSRI reported 1,400 families supported and 721 clients served.
A Potential Turning Point
In July 2025, Malaysia’s Home Ministry announced plans to launch a national refugee registration system. The initiative aims to improve data transparency and complement the work of the UNHCR. While the plan’s implementation details remain vague, it signals a possible shift toward greater state involvement and accountability in managing migration to Malaysia.
If effectively executed, the system could lead to better service provision, targeted aid distribution and a path toward formal recognition. However, without accompanying legal reforms, refugees will remain unprotected.
The Path Forward
Migration to Malaysia will continue as long as regional conflict and instability persist. Refugees contribute to Malaysian society – they work, raise families and engage in communities – yet outside of the legal framework.
Malaysia has the opportunity to lead in Southeast Asia by adopting a clear refugee policy. Recognizing refugee status, granting work rights and providing access to basic services are essential steps. A legal and humanitarian approach to migration can ensure that the thousands who seek safety in Malaysia are no longer invisible.
– Kai Xian Lim
Kai is based in Lille, France and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr
3 Charities Operating in Hong Kong
These three charities operating in Hong Kong provide aid to the most vulnerable communities and aim to mobilize local society to offer them care and support.
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
Sir Horace and Lord Lawrence, two brothers, founded Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) in 1956. The idea sprouted after a surge of Chinese immigrants arrived in Hong Kong following the civil war at the end of 1946. Since many of these immigrants were farmers, the Kadoorie brothers provided them with training, guidance on how to plough their land and interest-free loans.
Its programs empower rural communities in Hong Kong and beyond to build income sources, improve food security and gain skills that promote long-term self-sufficiency and environmental resilience.
Hong Kong Family Link Mental Health Advocacy Association Limited
This organization was established in 2003 by Dr. Lee Cheng and Dr. Zhao Yulong to raise awareness about mental health in Hong Kong. In a society where stigma around mental illness remains widespread, the Hong Kong Family Link Mental Health Advocacy Association Limited works to combat discrimination and uphold the rights of people with mental health conditions.
The organization not only works to improve the lives of individuals with mental health conditions by providing access to education, employment and housing, but also offers medical care and vocational training to support their recovery from treatable illnesses.
In addition, it trains family members to actively participate in the care and recovery of their loved ones, empowering them to become part of the healing process. To further dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness, the organization engages the broader community, partnering with volunteers, journalists, medical professionals and other organizations to raise awareness and foster collaboration.
Helping Hand
Helping Hand was founded after Bob Saunders, a former fishmonger, came across 120 elderly individuals who had been evicted from “caged homes” and abandoned on the streets with only their meager belongings. In response, he established Helping Hand in 1978 to support underprivileged older adults in Hong Kong, with a mission to ensure they live with dignity after years of hard work.
Since then, the organization has expanded its services across several locations, including Tai Wo Ping, Shun Lee Tsuen and Lai King. Helping Hand provides 1,000 beds across its care homes and serves more than 40,000 older adults in need each year. Its services include housing, rehabilitation, a holiday center, physical activities and training programs designed to enhance the well-being of elderly residents.
In 1984, the organization launched its signature Cookie Campaign. This highly successful fundraising initiative continues to support Helping Hand’s mission of caring for Hong Kong’s aging population.
Conclusion
Despite the efforts of these three charities operating in Hong Kong, there is much more to do to bridge the wealth gap, eliminate societal stigma and provide every HongKonger with a decent and dignified life. Funding, volunteer work and community mobilization are the key moving forward.
– Yasmine Belabed
Photo: Flickr
Strengthening Disease Prevention in Sudan
Health Challenges Under Conflict
A major challenge Sudan faces in tackling the spread of disease and poverty begins with child immunization. The most prevalent diseases within Sudan include malaria, cholera, measles and dengue fever affecting 3.4 million children under the age of 5 years old. Ongoing conflict has severely disrupted vaccination efforts, worsening children’s access to aid as well as making it increasingly difficult to reach these children with essential, life-saving immunizations. While UNICEF continues to provide critical support in delivering vaccines, sustained investment and stability are essential to protecting public health. UNICEF has been providing support to Sudan since 1952, and in 2024, it helped more than 9.8 million Sudanese individuals access sanitary water and provided education and psychosocial care to 2.7 million children and caregivers. To effectively prevent the spread of infectious diseases, Sudan must prioritize the restoration and continuity of its national immunization program.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the leading cause of morbidity worldwide, accounting for 71% of global deaths, and they are becoming more and more prevalent in Sudan. Data from the NCD Progress Monitor shows that the percentage of NCD related mortality had increased from 32% in 2015 to 54% in 2022. Sudan’s progress in implementing NDC policies has been slow as the country achieved five of the 19 NCD targets in 2022.
Organizations Assisting Sudan
Despite immense challenges, several global aid organizations are making an impact, including UNICEF and World Vision who have enabled Sudan’s development by helping individuals who have been directly affected by this ongoing conflict by providing necessary education, food and water and shelter. World Vision has been able to reach more than 3 million individuals, providing them with emergency assistance in Sudan’s unstable climate, making a significant impact. These organizations help to boost social development in Sudan, ultimately aiding them to reduce levels of poverty and increase individual’s livelihoods.
Action Against Hunger is an organization that is fixated on providing care to individuals experiencing this violence and ongoing conflict. It has been working in Sudan since 1985 to provide fresh water and food as well as malnutrition treatment to those deprived of food. From 2023-2024, it has helped more than 815,000 Sudanese people access food by working in 15 different locations in Sudan to reach the optimum number of people. This organization has also been growing rice in flood waters and farming onions, helping to create new emergency services and rebuild livelihoods, ultimately contributing to the resistance of poverty in Sudan.
Advancing With Sustainability and Purpose
After the breakout of the war in 2023, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) established a prevalent presence in Al Jazirah State where health and nutrition services were provided and assisted 400,000 Sudanese refugees prior to the War. The IRC established a WASH program – which is an integrated water, sanitation and hygiene program – to help disease prevention in Sudan.
– Carise Wallbank
Photo: Unsplash
The Fight Against Child Poverty in Lima, Peru
Several organizations, both international and local, operate in Peru with the aim of alleviating child poverty in Lima. Their charitable efforts contribute to improving the livelihoods of thousands of disadvantaged youths living in the Peruvian capital.
SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children’s Villages is the largest charitable organization in the world dedicated to the rights of children, particularly those without or at risk of losing family care. Established in 1946 in Austria, it now operates in 135 countries worldwide. The Peruvian branch of SOS Children’s Villages addresses concerning problems affecting the country’s urban youth: according to official figures, more than 3.4 million were at risk of losing family care in 2019 and more than 1.5 million did not work or study in 2023.
Its work is focused on providing children with a safe family environment by strengthening families’ child-rearing skills, settling children with relatives, training family care professionals and providing integral development courses. It also lobbies the Peruvian government so it increases assistance to vulnerable youths. All of these initiatives establish a solid foundation for child social development that is particularly felt in Lima, a dense urban environment where family fracturing is prevalent.
Un Techo Para Mi Pais
Un Techo para mi País (TECHO) is a Latin American nonprofit that works to provide proper housing to vulnerable populations. Though active in 18 countries, its activities in Peru overlap mostly with the aforementioned pueblos jóvenes of the major cities. Since 2006, it has built 5,800 emergency settlements and provided aid to more than 26,000 people. Approximately 3.5 million Limans experience home precarity or homelessness, and around 300,000 of them are children. As the epicenter of Peru’s child homelessness problem, TECHO concentrates its house-building activities in the city’s most underprivileged areas.
This also includes increased access to sanitation and clean water, providing these services to almost 11,000 people. The work TECHO performs elevates the living standards of those residing in the notorious pueblos jóvenes, particularly those in the massive urban sprawl of Lima.
Caritas Internationalis
Caritas Internationalis, founded in 1951, is another international relief group, aligned with the Catholic Church. Since its beginning in 1955, Caritas in Peru has carried out programs that foster human development, particularly among the disadvantaged. It fights against discrimination and social exclusion, which are prevalent in Lima and other cities, by providing families with the training and resources to elevate themselves. Some of its programs include rural development through cacao planting, caring for the elderly, providing aid to migrants and work training for at-risk youths. When it comes to impoverished youths in Lima, this latter initiative is particularly relevant: Caritas provides workshops and vocational training for youths, specifically focusing on the pueblos jóvenes, where educational and economic opportunities are scarce.
It also engages in political advocacy, initiatives in environmental responsibility and projects for natural disaster mitigation. Although active throughout Peru, Caritas places a special emphasis in urban areas given the prevalence of factors such as economic inequality, urban poverty and crime, and their work directly benefits vulnerable populations experiencing child poverty in Lima.
Looking Ahead
Lima, the largest city in Peru, offers its own unique range of social challenges. It is only a very small fraction of the problem that is child poverty; however, professional, dedicated organizations with decades of experience are making genuine progress. Every day sees steady progress in the fight against child poverty in Lima. While the reliability of aid from world governments comes increasingly under question, supporting private initiatives may be the future of the ongoing fight against poverty in all its facets and across every corner of the world.
– Rafael Saavedra
Photo: Unsplash
Understanding the Gender Wage Gap in Mozambique
Mozambique’s situation is typical of its regional context. In East and Southern Africa, women earn on average 21% less than men. This unjust state of affairs reflects broader regional gender inequalities relating to education access, as well as deep-rooted attitudes regarding social roles. Here are three key factors affecting the gender wage gap in Mozambique:
1. Women Work Fewer Hours Than Men
The gender wage gap in Mozambique is only 1.6% at the hourly level, but 14.9% at the monthly level. This means that women earn significantly less than men throughout the course of the month, embedding long-term income disparities. One explanation for this is the substantial role of unpaid domestic labor such as child-rearing, which women usually perform, often rendering them unable to work for as many hours as men. Discriminatory working practices are also a concern in this regard.
2. Social Attitudes to Gender Are Highly Restrictive
Gender roles in Mozambique are traditional and deep-rooted. The largest employment sectors for men are “masculine” in nature — manufacture, construction and transport — while for women, the largest sectors are household work and education. Unpaid domestic labor reflects a social contribution that is ‘unseen’ in terms of income. Estimates have indicated that 37% of women and men would need to switch occupations in order to reverse the gender wage gap that these imbalances cause.
Restrictions upon women’s autonomy in Mozambique begin in childhood. About 53% of Mozambican women marry before the age of 18, while 153 of every 1,000 adolescent females (15-19 years old) gave birth in 2023. These alarming figures demonstrate how many young women end up in domestication before they have any notions of formal employment.
3. Educational Attainment Is Highly Imbalanced
The gender wage gap in Mozambique is more pronounced (23.4%) for those who only have a primary level of education than for those who have a post-secondary level of education (13.8%). This is in the context of more girls completing secondary education than boys. Therefore, women who fail to complete secondary education end up with greater wage imbalances and worse socioeconomic prospects.
Moreover, the female literacy rate in Mozambique is substantially lower than the male literacy rate (49% to 72%). This prevents vast numbers of women accessing higher education and the higher-skilled, higher-paid employment opportunities that it beckons.
How the Gender Wage Gap in Mozambique Affects Women
One impact of the gender wage gap in Mozambique is the financial disempowerment of women, including through a lack of financial independence and long-term economic security. Significantly fewer women than men have a banking account (38.7% to 61%), and fewer women than men receive support for the future through pensions or life insurance. Low literacy rates and education levels compound this impact, making many women dependent upon their husbands. The gender wage gap can therefore be understood both as a symptom of and as a cause of restrictive societal expectations of women: it reinforces the deep-rooted inequalities within Mozambican society that give rise to it in the first place.
Reasons To Be Hopeful
Foreign governments and NGOs are offering development aid to target the root causes of the gender wage gap in Mozambique as a matter of priority. For example, Canadian development aid funds the Empowering Adolescent Girls to Learn and Earn (EAGLE) scheme, which aims to help 4,200 adolescent girls in Mozambique improve their educational attainment. Working with community leaders in the highly impoverished Monica and Sofala provinces, the scheme focuses on girls who have previously been forced out of school through marriage or pregnancy. The program provides accelerated literacy, numeracy, business and vocational classes, equipping the girls with important life skills required to enter formal employment and become more economically empowered. So far, EAGLE has helped enroll almost 1,000 girls in primary school, and 99% of participants have passed their National Literacy and Numeracy exams.
Furthermore, the World Bank is aiming to increase the number of girls completing primary and secondary education on a large scale through its Improving Learning and Empowering Girls in Mozambique program. Through a $299 million funding commitment from the U.S., the initiative has significantly increased the primary level grade retention of girls living in highly impoverished areas by providing resources such as textbooks and equipment and leading teacher training programs. At least 55,000 students have benefitted so far.
Looking Ahead
Although the gender wage gap in Mozambique appears to be an insurmountable challenge, development aid programs such as these indicate that where there is the political and economic will to address deep-rooted gender inequalities, issues of female economic empowerment can slowly be overcome.
– Joseph Webb
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
The Push for Social Services in Nigeria
The Struggle to Find Social Services
Housing is more than just shelter for a lot of people. It also relates to stability and a quality of life. In Nigeria, where millions of people live in poverty, the housing crisis is high due to the lack of accessible social support systems. Many citizens are left to navigate high living costs, underemployment, and rising rent prices without government aid.
The housing crisis emphasizes the broader issue of limited access to social services in Nigeria. Social services are typically defined as essential resources that governments or nonprofit organizations usually provide to help individuals meet their basic needs. These services may include health care, food assistance and subsidized housing. While it is important to avoid long-term dependency, many individuals facing poverty, displacement, or other challenges need temporary support to regain stability and move forward.
Property and Perspective
James Sosan, a property owner from Nigeria currently residing in the United States, shares his perspective on the affordable housing crisis. With properties in both Nigeria and the U.S., Sosan has noticed major differences in affordability and government involvement. He told The Borgen Project, “In Nigeria, it is difficult to live on your own, especially without help.” He goes on to say the cost of living is high, and there is not much government support that helps people make ends meet.
Sosan explains that many young Nigerians who attempt to live independently often struggle to maintain housing. “They end up returning home,” not because they want to, but because they have no choice. It delays independence and creates this cycle where people stay financially dependent on their families for much longer than many would like. This kind of dependency could have an effect on long-term success and trap individuals in cycles of poverty that are difficult to break. James is disappointed by the lack of social services in Nigeria and wishes for more to be done.
Solutions
While access to such services remained limited, some initiatives in Nigeria are working to reverse this trend. One of the most prominent initiatives is the Renewed Hope Agenda. The agenda was launched under the Tinubu administration to enhance the quality of life for Nigerians. A significant part of this agenda involves working with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). A multi-phase approach is in progress to create job opportunities. Recently, the second phase was approved, focusing on providing citizens with practical job skills in various industries. The NDE is working to strengthen the nation’s employment rate while providing people with important skills.
To further support the overall goal, the government has also launched the 3 Million Technical Talent Program. Led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Ministry of Communications, the program aims to train 3 million Nigerians in high-demand digital fields like artificial intelligence, software development, and more.
This initiative could allow Nigerians to establish a strong footing in the tech world. Furthermore, it could foster a community of skilled professionals who can participate in the rapidly growing digital economy.
Lastly, the Renewed Hope Housing Program is addressing Nigeria’s severe housing deficit by developing affordable housing across multiple states. These units are made for low-income families and are supported by public-private partnerships. These efforts aim to tackle both economic instability and the social barriers that trap many Nigerians in cycles of poverty.
– Knia Parks
Photo: Flickr
Health Care Crisis: 4 Diseases Impacting Kenya
Malaria
In 2022, Kenya reported around 5 million cases of malaria, with more than 12,000 Kenyans dying as a result of the outbreak. Lack of rainfall and high temperatures have exacerbated the already dire risk of Malaria contamination, as Kenya’s lack of rainfall has created environmental conditions that are highly conducive to Malaria exposure.
Extreme changes in Kenya’s weather patterns have attracted a breed of mosquito, Anopheles Stephensi, which serves as an avid transmitter of malaria. Studies have concluded that the resurgence of the Anopheles Stephensi population in Kenya could potentially expose around 126 million Kenyans to Malaria.
HIV/AIDS
Kenya currently has the seventh largest percentage of people infected with AIDS/HIV globally. Due to the erroneous distribution of health care facilities across Kenya, faulty educational policies and cultural/systemic gender norms, AIDS/HIV reigns as one of the leading causes of death in Kenya. The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately affects women, especially young women (15-24), as women and young girls make up two-thirds of the current percentage of Kenyans living with AIDS/HIV. The current U.S. foreign aid freeze has only exacerbated this issue, as foreign aid has historically accounted for 40% of Kenya’s HIV/AID preventative resource supply.
Cholera
Kenya has historically been a hotspot for frequent Cholera outbreaks and has continued to affect the Kenyan population due to poor sanitation infrastructure and lack of access to clean water. Heavily populated areas like refugee camps, informal settlements, and other highly populated and poorly regulated areas have especially served as hotspots for Cholera contamination.
While efforts like nationwide vaccine distribution, an increase in research towards Cholera prevention/preparedness, and an increase in policy highlighting health care reform in Kenya have helped mitigate outbreaks in recent years, Kenya has had a Cholera outbreak almost every single year since its first outbreak in 1971.
Tuberculosis
In 2016, Tuberculosis was the fourth-leading cause of death in Kenya, and the reported cases of TB contamination have increased sixfold in the last 15 years. The COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated these rates, as the percentage of Kenyans who contracted Tuberculosis increased from 49% in 2019 to 61% in 2020. While the spike in Tuberculosis rates has since decreased as the turbulence of the pandemic has decreased, the 2020 Tuberculosis outbreak represents the severe fragility of Kenyan’s health care sector, as statistics have repeatedly shown that the slightest economic, political, health care, or societal issue can seriously exacerbate an already extremely vulnerable healthcare system.
The Future
Though many issues continue to fray the fabric of the health care sector in Kenya, there is hope for the welfare of Kenyan citizens. In 2024, President William Ruto implemented the Social Health Insurance Fund, mandating health care coverage for citizens nationwide.
NGOs like UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to implement immunization programs to reduce diseases impacting Kenya. Though much work is still necessary when it comes to health care reform in Kenya, the shift in political attention towards healthcare reform, coupled with the persistence of NGO efforts to supply Kenya with the proper resources to combat disease outbreaks, establish that hope for the improvement of Kenya’s fractured healthcare system remains steadfast.
– Ava Lachini
Photo: Flickr
Cartel Crisis: Addressing Child Poverty in Ecuador
Overview of Ecuador’s Cartel Crisis
Ecuador is a small and highly biodiverse South American country bordering the world’s two leading producers of cocaine: Colombia to the north, and Peru to the south. Historically, Ecuador has been considered one of the more stable Latin American nations, largely evading the well-documented cartel-driven violence that has plagued its neighbours.
However, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and despite not producing the drug itself, around 70% of the world’s cocaine now passes through Ecuador, BBC reports. Large criminal organizations from Albania, Mexico and Colombia have colluded with local gangs to control Ecuador’s ports and their shipping routes. Devastating violence has followed: there were 781 murders in January 2025 alone.
President Daniel Noboa — re-elected in April — has instigated a State of Emergency, including a nightly curfew, on several occasions, and has promised to crack down on the violence. Yet even with notorious gang leader Fito being extradited to the U.S., the violence is continuing and spreading inland: on 28 July 2025, 17 people were shot dead in the small town of El Empalme.
Child Poverty in Ecuador
Child poverty is a major social issue facing Ecuador, with the World Bank reporting that 45% of under-14s live below the poverty line. The implications make for grim reading: malnutrition affects 23% of Ecuadorian children; many, especially in rural areas, cannot access education; several fall victim to child sexual abuse. Poorer children in cities often have to work on the streets to support their families, and schooling itself is often so poor that it fails to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds out of poverty.
Child Poverty and the Cartel Crisis
Inner-city slums such as those in the capital, Quito, and in the major port city of Guayaquil, are perfect targets for criminal gangs and a focal point of Ecuador’s cartel crisis. Many have been branded “breeding grounds” for child and adolescent gang violence, whereby children growing up in overcrowded houses and unsafe neighbourhoods, and who lack strong support networks, develop a distorted concept of violence as a normal element of home life.
Criminal gangs seek to exploit young people’s lack of social and economic opportunities, instilling fear in impoverished communities. Some inner-city schools struggle with “micro-trafficking”, whereby older children recruit younger children into gangs within the school grounds. Teachers report feeling afraid of teaching children whose parents are gang members, for fear of drawing their attention.
Addressing Child Poverty in Ecuador’s Cartel Crisis
Two significant aid programmes are seeking to address child poverty during Ecuador’s cartel crisis. In February 2025, the World Bank committed to a $110 million U.S.-funded “Social Safety Net” program, focusing on improving child development and tackling the most significant dimensions of child poverty in Ecuador. Among its interventions are cash transfers for households with children under 3 years old and cooperative work with Ecuador’s Ministry of Health to increase the provision of nutrition services across the country to address child malnutrition.
Additionally, Cross International provides direct aid to children living in poor inner-city slums. Cross International provides food and academic support for primary schools to support families who do not have the time or resources to feed or academically assist their children. For those in secondary school, Cross International have innovatively established a night school, acknowledging those children who have to work in the daytime to support their families, according to its website. These measures explicitly aim to support at-risk children living in poverty during Ecuador’s cartel crisis.
Although the situation in Ecuador is undeniably bleak, these aid schemes are providing vital support in addressing child poverty and reducing the risk of Ecuador’s cartel crisis engulfing many more young people.
– Joseph Webb
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
200,000 Invisible Lives: Migration to Malaysia
Malaysia hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Southeast Asia. However, the lack of a formal legal framework for refugees leaves them deeply vulnerable to poverty, exploitation and systemic neglect.
Who Comes and Why?
As of May 2025, around 200,260 refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia. More than 179,000 are from Myanmar, including 117,670 Rohingya, 29,620 Chin and 31,730 other ethnic minorities. They fled ethnic violence, forced displacement and persecution. Others come from more than 50 different countries, including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Iraq and Syria.
As of 2025, men make up 64% of refugees and asylum-seekers, while women account for 36%. Alarmingly, more than 50,000 are children under the age of 18, many of whom have never stepped foot inside a formal school.
Migration to Malaysia is often undertaken in desperation. Neighboring countries often turn away refugees or deny long-term protection, and many see Malaysia as a stepping stone to resettlement. However, few are successfully resettled.
Legal Status and Daily Reality
One will find that daily life is arduous for refugees in Malaysia. The country has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. Malaysia does not legally recognize refugee status. Under the Immigration Act 1959/63, refugees and asylum-seekers are considered undocumented immigrants and are subject to arrest and deportation. The UNHCR issues refugee cards, but these offer no protection under Malaysian law. The consequences of this legal limbo are wide-reaching, affecting every aspect of daily life for those who experience migration to Malaysia. These include:
Civil Society Response
In the absence of formal state protection, civil society and humanitarian organizations play a crucial role in supporting those migration to Malaysia affects. ElShaddai, which is based in Klang, provides education and health care to refugee families. In 2022, there were 18 ElShaddai learning centers located in Selangor, Kelantan, Pahang and Sabah serving 1,400 children from marginalized communities. Today, the organization operates more than 20 learning centers across Malaysia to provide preschool to diploma-level education.
Founded in 1991, Tenaganita is a Malaysian human rights organization that supports refugees through legal aid, psychosocial counseling and community empowerment. Its Refugee Action Program works with eight Burmese-led refugee groups to assist in wage negotiation, education access and protection from detention. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization coordinated relief efforts that reached more than 2,200 families in more than 100 locations across the Klang Valley.
The Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) supports refugees through its food aid and social service programs, including education, psychological counseling and skills training. As of now, MSRI reported 1,400 families supported and 721 clients served.
A Potential Turning Point
In July 2025, Malaysia’s Home Ministry announced plans to launch a national refugee registration system. The initiative aims to improve data transparency and complement the work of the UNHCR. While the plan’s implementation details remain vague, it signals a possible shift toward greater state involvement and accountability in managing migration to Malaysia.
If effectively executed, the system could lead to better service provision, targeted aid distribution and a path toward formal recognition. However, without accompanying legal reforms, refugees will remain unprotected.
The Path Forward
Migration to Malaysia will continue as long as regional conflict and instability persist. Refugees contribute to Malaysian society – they work, raise families and engage in communities – yet outside of the legal framework.
Malaysia has the opportunity to lead in Southeast Asia by adopting a clear refugee policy. Recognizing refugee status, granting work rights and providing access to basic services are essential steps. A legal and humanitarian approach to migration can ensure that the thousands who seek safety in Malaysia are no longer invisible.
– Kai Xian Lim
Photo: Flickr
How Disability and Poverty in Dominica Take Effect
Disability and poverty rates often have a cause-and-effect relationship. Poverty can cause disability rates to increase, and disability can cause poverty rates to increase. Considering it is a developing country, disability and poverty in Dominica is always changing.
Poverty in Dominica
The most recent poverty percentages are unclear, but previous estimates suggest a rate of around 43% since its founding. A Country Poverty Assessment concludes that “poverty is more heavily concentrated in rural areas: more than 1 in 3 rural households are poor compared with 1 in 5 urban households.” Since this assessment, disasters like Hurricane Maria and COVID-19 have also affected the country’s economy. Other organizations report that the poverty rate is currently closer to 29%. As Dominica is vulnerable to disastrous natural events, economic challenges pose a continuous threat.
Solutions To Address Poverty
Expectations are in place for percental changes, but no official data is present for current households. Strategies to improve the country’s poverty rates have been presented in the National Resilience Development Strategy. This policy offers a broad range of solutions to issues, one being poverty. Three formal strategies offer improvement in poverty rates. One strategy focuses on creating opportunities for those with low/no income. Another strategy concentrates on other affected areas like education and housing. The final focuses on building assets and the availability of public services.
Poverty’s Effect on Disability
While disability and poverty rates are two separate categories, sometimes they can be interlinked. More than 60% of those with disabilities are facing a severe risk of poverty. Disability affects one in five people living in extreme poverty. Poverty can infect several factors of a person’s life-such as malnutrition and dangerous living conditions-which can directly result in disabilities. Poverty deals with an isolating economic pressure that can be amplified with a disability and vice versa.
In a regional report on Latin America and the Caribbean, “When persons with disabilities seek work, they tend to acquire low-skilled positions, especially in urban areas. The economic impact of having a household member with disabilities is also evident in high unemployment rates for heads of households.” With limited income, limited health care options and limited opportunities, this creates a dangerous pipeline for the disability and poverty percentages, let alone for those in a developing country.
Disability Representation in Dominica
As it is considered a developing country, disability percentages have been on the rise since its establishment. A census done in 2011 provides inaccurate statistics that only further prove exclusivity in Dominica. The Population and housing Census estimates that around 3,400 citizens in Dominica live with a disability. The percentages between 2001 and 2011 provide increasing statistics, rather than decreasing. Sight-related disabilities increased by 46%. Those with body movement disabilities 35%, and in another category labeled “other,” experienced over 80% increased. Both men and women live with the effects of disability and poverty in Dominica, while women average higher in mobility-based disabilities. Men average a higher percentage in behavior-based disabilities. With the heightening vulnerabilities to natural disasters, policies are forming to advocate for those affected by disability and poverty in Dominica.
Policies and Organizations in Place
While Dominica faces critical evolving challenges with disability and poverty rates, promising policies and strategies are emerging. The Growth and Social Protection Strategy (GSPS) provides a strengthening foundation for growth ideas and development. This strategy offers a reformation process that promotes growth, economically and socially. The GSPS aims to reaffirm and enable internal growth investments and poverty reduction strategies.
More recently, successful investment opportunities are relocating to Dominica, which should provide both domestic and foreign investment relationships. Besides official policies, groups and organizations have been forming in support of an inclusive environment for everyone. The Dominica Association of Person with Disabilities (DAPD) is an organization that advocates for equal opportunities and supports those with disabilities. Nathalie Murphy, a founding member of the organization, lives with a sight disability. This organization advocates for the development and welfare of those with disabilities in Dominica. The DAPD has coined a National Dollar Day initiative, which has a goal of fundraising $70,000 for the cause. Other organizations can form on common ideals and beliefs and can inspire one another to take different approaches to shared policies.
Looking Ahead
The increasing population in Dominica offers the country a chance to build its economy to support its citizens. The connection between disability and poverty can create intertwining hardships that affect other surrounding factors. With current reformation plans in place, Dominica’s economy can grow. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded that Dominica is projecting positive economic shifts in the near future. Further expansion in growing markets can prove to change Dominica and its future. With the formation of organizations, forums, policies and committees, people can come together to strengthen Dominica and its citizens.
– Emma Rowan
Photo: Unsplash
The Benefits of Telemedicine in Rural Africa
Despite Africa having the highest disease burden compared to the other continents, it also has the lowest ratio of health workers to the population. It carries nearly a quarter of the disease burden on a global scale, yet only holds around 3% of health care workers. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Africa has a mere 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people, compared to 37.6 doctors per 10,000 in Europe. In addition, an estimated deficit of 11.1 million health care employees is projected by 2030, with most of the disparity affecting Africa.
Telemedicine Services in Africa
Combined with the excessive burden of disease outbreaks and largely understaffed health care facilities, Africa’s health care systems are overwhelmed and unable to serve their population equitably. Those living in sub-Saharan Africa are notably disadvantaged, with the region having the lowest ratings in well-being and satisfaction with health care services. Most people live in rural areas and their access to health care services is even more limited. In response, many rural areas in Africa have introduced telemedicine services and the results are promising.
Telemedicine involves using apps designed for personal communication devices like tablets and phones to deliver various health care services. Some telemedicine services offer telephonic or face-to-face communication with health care workers, SMS for treatment support or questions and online platforms to view medical records or schedule health consultations. Many African companies are investing and creating these online platforms to better serve their communities, especially those in rural areas with limited access to health care resources. Below are three telemedicine platforms implemented in different sub-Saharan African countries.
EasyClinic in Rwanda
EasyClinic is an online platform designed to improve health care access and efficiency, especially for Rwandans in rural communities. Key features of EasyClinic include generating prescriptions in only 30 seconds and delivering them via Email, WhatsApp or SMS, along with consultations with medical professionals through chat or video.
EasyClinic also utilizes AI to generate prescriptions and notes and send appointment reminders. In addition, the platform provides AI-powered diagnostic services based on the patient’s history and general symptoms.
Daktari Smart Program in Kenya
Launched in November 2021, the Daktari Smart Program utilizes telemedicine to provide specialized care to children in Kenya. This program allows Gertrude Children’s Hospital Specialists to connect with health care providers at rural facilities in Africa, allowing them to evaluate patients more accurately using telemedicine services.
The online connection also increased education for local providers and health care volunteers in more rural areas. In addition, the platform can operate at a low bandwidth, between 512Kbps to 2Mbps, ensuring the services are reliable even in rural areas with poor internet service.
Thus far, the program has provided free health care services to more than 32,400 children in Kenya, saving them time and money. This has also created more jobs for health care employees, increasing rural facility staff by 300 workers. The program has also trained more than 300 volunteers throughout Kenya’s rural communities, improving health care access for many.
Rocket Health in Uganda
Founded in 2012, Rocket Health is Uganda’s most-used telemedicine app, providing full service to more than 25,000 patients. To ensure primary care is more affordable and accessible for all Ugandans, the startup focuses on 24/7 online consultations, medication delivery and the collection of laboratory samples from patients’ homes.
Rocket Health is also introducing a new AI diagnostics feature that would allow doctors to quickly run patients through a set of questions to help them identify diseases faster. The AI service can identify up to 90% of medical conditions in combination with telephone assessments and remote lab tests. Online consultations have skyrocketed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with Rocket Health providing more than 400,000 online consultations.
Conclusion
Telemedicine platforms like EasyClinic, the Daktari Smart Program and Rocket Health are transforming how health care is accessed and delivered across rural regions in sub-Saharan Africa. In areas where health care systems and workers are overwhelmed, these digital solutions provide a virtual bridge between underserved populations and life-saving health services. By combining mobile technology with AI, diagnoses are often delivered faster and more accurate, allowing for even more patients to be assessed.
For rural communities that have long been excluded from equitable health care, these technology innovations are more than convenient; they are essential. As the sub-Saharan region continues to face systemic health challenges, telemedicine stands out as a key tool for closing the health care gap in the most remote and vulnerable communities in Africa.
– Grace Johnson
Photo: Pexels