Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ethiopia

A Look at the Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in Ethiopia

Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa, is home to the second largest population in Africa. Ethiopia’s economy grows by 10 percent each year, one of the highest growth rates in its region. Despite this remarkable number, it remains one of the poorest nations in the world. These top 10 facts about living conditions in Ethiopia are characterized by the economic, social and political reality of a developing nation.

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ethiopia

  1. As one of the fastest growing economies and one of the poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia’s population may not see its growth reflected in current living conditions for years. For the last seven years, the country boasted a two-digit economic growth while a third of the population lived below the poverty line. Moreover, its GDP reached close to 10.9 percent in 2017. This has been attributed to a number of elements that are shifting the living conditions such as the expansion of agriculture, construction and services, as well as modest manufacturing growth.
  2. Ethiopia lacks access to clean water and sanitation, which lower living conditions. While the number of citizens with access to clean water has doubled in the last 20 years, 61 million people still do not have access to water and 65 million live without a proper sanitation system. This creates an adverse living condition as droughts result in famine,  food shortages and water-borne diseases that force people to rely heavily on contaminated or stagnant water sources.
  3. One of the biggest issues affecting the living condition, especially in Ethiopia’s capital, is the housing crisis which has forced 80 percent of the population in Addis Ababa to live in slums. In addition, it has subjected over 12,000 children to live on the streets. One of the biggest attributes is an increase in the rural exodus which has resulted in an urbanization rate of 8 percent per annum.
  4. According to WHO reports, the health status of Ethiopia is poor with an abundance of potentially preventable diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases. This issue, in addition to the health system being underdeveloped, is a result of the aforementioned issues including a lack of access to clean water and sanitation, poverty, migration, and droughts. These conditions make the population vulnerable to contracting an otherwise preventable disease. 
  5. The most prominent means of transportation in Ethiopia and the biggest part of the sector is road transport. Ninety percent of freight transportation, both in the import and export sectors, and 95 percent of the public transportation services are carried out by the road transport branch. While a majority of the urban population covers only short to medium range distances on foot, in rural areas people for the most part travel on foot except for the few instances that they use draught animals.
  6. High unemployment rates, especially for youth, hinder Ethiopia from growing even more. Despite the public sector’s efforts to reduce unemployment and create jobs, there is a need for the private sector’s contribution, since it is considered a longterm source of most jobs. The private sector can create new jobs in new areas such as IT, which can be a sustainable solution for the nation’s unemployment challenges.
  7. According to the IMF’s analysis of Ethiopia’s financial sector, the nation has a long way to go in filling the gap between financial support available and the pressing need for small business investments. This is particularly true in the rural areas where it has not given heed to the nation’s state-run economy, where little direct foreign investment has been placed. The Director of the Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions, Wolday Amha, says that loans needed by micro-enterprises are sourced from people with low income who are the beneficiaries. The director notes the danger of an economic and political crisis if this enterprise gets hijacked by the private sector.
  8. Fifteen years ago, only 25 percent of boys and 20 percent of girls went to school, and Ethiopia now covers 90 percent of students. The main causes for this change include building more schools in rural areas, training more teachers and giving room for local communities to have a say on how their children get educated. Furthermore, the Ethiopian government has put a focus on primary education that has the advantage of increasing the number of students going to school.
  9. Similar to the approach nations take in its region, Ethiopia has reported issues with freedom of expression in a keen effort to curate a perception around its developmental achievement and not its drawbacks. Despite pressure from aid organizations, the government showed a prolonged hesitance to tell the international community that there was a serious drought issue three years ago.
  10. The state security system that was created and maintained for 25 years by the ruling party TPLF/EPRDF has contributed to the undisputed authority of the party as well as advancing state-led developmental efforts. Over the years, both peaceful and forceful attempts to challenge the ruling party have been successfully suppressed. The result of this system has been the difficulty to discern the government from the party which has morphed security organizations into executive agencies for the ruling party. 

The Road to Improved Living Conditions 

The government of Ethiopia has put in place its Growth and Transformation Plan, which has put forward a goal for development and economic projects that aim to make Ethiopia a middle-income country by 2025. 

This is an ambitious vision that sets out to radically change huge sectors such as health, education and finance, which is also where the nation faces its biggest challenges.

– Bilen Kassie 

 

Photo: Flickr

 

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ecuador

Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in Ecuador
Ecuador has long welcomed backpackers and tourists from around the world who wish to indulge in its rich culture and diverse nature. For this reason, one will encounter many resources for westerners considering resettling in the country.

The following 10 facts about living conditions in Ecuador focus on its natives rather than on expats who often settle in Ecuador carrying wealth and resources with them.

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Ecuador

  1. In 2015, the life expectancy of an Ecuadorian was 76 years. This number is higher than in previous years but still lower than most countries like the U.K. where life expectancy was 81 years in 2015.
  2. In 2016, 22.9 percent of the Ecuadorian population lived below the national poverty line. This is lower than the 64.4 percent living below the poverty line in 2000. However, it is slightly higher than its 2014 rate of 22.5 percent. Thus, this statistic should be monitored in coming years to ensure that the rate does not increase or stabilize.
  3. In 2017, the average monthly wage was $437.44. This number is a slight increase from 2016 when the average monthly wage was $426.92. However, it is still significantly lower than the average monthly wage of $4,893 in the U.S.
  4. In 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.2 percent. A year prior, the unemployment rate in Ecuador was 5.4 percent. This suggests that the country is making slow progress.
  5. The 2018 labor force participation rate was 63.2 percent. This is lower than the 2017 labor force participation rate of 66 percent. There are many possibilities for this trend, including changes in social security systems and increased labor costs.
  6. Seventy-seven percent of indigenous children in Ecuador live in poor homes with daily incomes of just $2 or less. Seven percent of Ecuadorians are indigenous, which means that this 77 percent of indigenous children comprise a significant part of the total population.
  7. In 2016, the literacy rate in Ecuador was 94.4 percent. The literacy rate among women was 93.3 percent and 95.4 percent among men. This is much better than Tanzania where the literacy rate among adults is 77.89 percent. However, it is lower than in Spain where the literacy rate is 98.25 percent.
  8. In 2014, the infant mortality rate in Ecuador was 8.4 deaths per every 1,000 live births. This is down from 15.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000. However, this number is higher than that of the U.S., which faced just 5.82 deaths for every 1,000 live births in 2014.
  9. In 2017, there was an average of 2.19 children born to every woman in Ecuador. This placed Ecuador in 99th place out of 224 countries in terms of births per woman. Niger was in first with 6.49 births per woman, while Singapore came in last with just 0.83 births per woman.
  10. In 2013, the Ecuadorian government passed communication laws that limit free speech. These laws require the verification of all information that the media wishes to disseminate. This allows the government to protect certain ideas or pieces of information and prevents freedom of expression and participation in national or international affairs.

These top 10 facts about living conditions in Ecuador evoke hope for the country’s potential for progress and a sense of urgent need for change. Among developing countries, Ecuador is doing relatively well. It is experiencing steady growth and its poverty rate has dramatically declined. However, it has a lot of growing to do before it reaches its full potential and becomes sufficiently developed.

– Julia Bloechl

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Compared to other states in its region, Sri Lanka is doing well economically as a middle-income country. It is lagging, however, in certain aspects that include hunger and chronic malnutrition. The following are the top 10 facts about hunger in Sri Lanka.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Sri Lanka

  1. Despite reducing maternal mortality rates and cutting poverty in half, Sri Lanka is still struggling with food insecurity. Undernutrition of its population remains a prevalent issue in Sri Lanka. While the country has been making big strides, food insecurity has the ability to get in the way of socio-economic development.
  2. Sri Lanka’s levels of chronic malnutrition, or stunting, is the lowest in the region at 13 percent. Compared to its peers (India has an alarming rate of 38 percent), this rate is not high. Stunting prevents proper brain and body development in children, leading to a less prosperous and healthy population.
  3. However, Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in the world. Just behind Djibouti and South Sudan, Sri Lanka ranks third with rates between 14 and 35 percent throughout the country’s districts, which is particularly concerning for the health of Sri Lanka’s population.
  4. Sri Lanka has a 19.6 percent prevalence of wasting. Wasting refers to a low body weight compared to height ratio, illustrating the considerable effect of undernutrition.
  5. Sri Lanka’s island status makes it vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns. Since 2016, Sri Lanka has been suffering from a severe drought that is still affecting 1.2 million people across the country. This significantly contributes to food insecurity because it wipes out large amounts of crops and agricultural food sources.
  6. The government of Sri Lanka estimates that 480,000 food insecure people will need humanitarian aid because of the effects of the 2016 drought. This aid is necessary to prevent the hunger problem from getting worse.
  7. As of 2017, the Sri Lankan government announced its plan to prioritize ending hunger and malnutrition. Working with the World Food Programme, the government is focusing on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2. This goal includes improving food security, ending hunger and advancing sustainable agriculture by 2030.
  8. Rice production has dropped severely since the drought hit Sri Lanka. A rice harvest in 2017 yielded 63 percent below normal. The population depends greatly on rice for sustenance and survival, and it is the main item affected by the drought.
  9. Among developing countries, Sri Lanka ranked 87th on the Global Hunger Index. This list was calculated by taking into account rates of stunting and wasting in children under 5, amount of population undernourished, and infant mortality rates. From “Low” to “Extremely Alarming,” this gave the country a status of “Serious” in 2016.
  10. The government of Sri Lanka and the World Food Programme have been working together for 50 years. The WFP focuses on supporting the population to gain access to a more steady supply of food. They address not only emergency situations like the 2016 drought but also long-term solutions to hunger.

Although Sri Lanka is improving in many ways, the country has a long way to come in regards to food insecurity. These top 10 facts about hunger in Sri Lanka provide clear insight into the humanitarian efforts that need to be made to mitigate this issue.

– Amelia Merchant
Photo: Flickr

Hidden Crisis: 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia
Australia, by definition, is a developed nation. Despite it’s commonly perceived status as a “first world nation,” though, Australia faces a sizeable food crisis that has only gained momentum over the past decade. Here are the top 10 facts about hunger in Australia.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Australia

  1. High Costs of Living are Causing Food Insecurity: Over the past year, Australia’s economy has grown an impressive 3.1 percent. This bodes well for livelihoods within the nation but also comes with an assortment of costs. Chief among these is the rising cost of living within the nation. Rising costs of living, directly and indirectly, impact livelihoods in a variety of ways, but most importantly, they can drive people into a state of food insecurity. Food insecurity means that they cannot adequately feed themselves or their family.
  2. Child Hunger is a Key Component of the Crisis: As previously stated, food insecurity is a direct symptom of rising costs of living in Australia. Many of those experiencing food insecurity in Australia are children. A report published earlier this year by Foodbank Australia, entitled “Rumbling Tummies,” found that more than 1 in 5 Australian children were subjected to food insecurity over the past year, meaning they regularly missed meals due to financial reasons.
  3. Australia’s Hunger Crisis is a “Hidden” Crisis: Due to Australia’s global high-income status, people are often shocked to hear that many of its citizens, as many as 1 in 6, go hungry every day. This dichotomy creates a “hidden” crisis, as images of Australia as an established first world nation mask the millions of common Australian households facing food insecurity.
  4. More and More Families are Being Impacted: According to a report by the Foodbank Organization, there was a 10 percent increase in food-insecure families throughout Australia. These findings suggest that this crisis is only now mounting, and will require further attention down the road to be adequately addressed.
  5. A Broad Range of Australians Faces Food Insecurity: Food insecurity impacts a wide strata of different Australians groups. As many as 50 percent of food-insecure Australians are employed, which points to the deep impact that rising living costs have brought about in Australia. Food insecurity affects young, old, rural and metropolitan Australians; it’s not a crisis that falls on one group.
  6. Food Insecurity Promotes Feelings of Depression and Negativity: Food insecurity is a challenge that frequently gives rise to emotional complications, according to a group of surveyed Australians. Depression, the most commonly reported feeling associated with food insecurity, was accompanied by smaller rates of stress, embarrassment, shame, and sadness. Cleary, Australia’s food crisis is more nuanced than a simple lack of resources. This crisis is multi-faceted, and, in turn, its response should go beyond just providing at-risk communities access to food banks and food stamps. The emotional ramifications of the crisis should be considered as well.
  7. Poverty, and In Turn Food Insecurity, is a Hard Trend to Buck: According to a report published by the University of Melbourne, the idea that poverty is short-lived for most Australians is a dominant narrative within the nation. This idea is misguided though, as less than 15 percent of Australians below the poverty line escape poverty on a yearly basis. This suggests that poverty in Australia is a pervasive condition and that treating its root causes cannot be swept under the rug if rates of food insecurity are to be reduced in the nation.
  8. More Australians Than You Think Live Below the Poverty Line: While the Australian poverty line is an occasionally unreliable metric, it can be used to make general inferences about the number of Australian citizens that are struggling to make ends meet, and, in turn, put food on the table. The population of Australia is roughly 24 million people, and about three million of these people — after having their housing costs taken into account — are estimated to live below the poverty line. While this number may appear high, it is important to consider that its estimation relied on the inclusion of living costs, which are only continuing to rise in Australia.
  9. A Changing Climate Could Impact Australia’s Hunger Crisis: In 2008, a drought-plagued Murray-Darlin Basin — a watershed in Australia — and led to a seasonal food crisis in the surrounding area. This points to the threat of climate change to the maintenance of food-access stability in Australia.
  10. Cultural Barriers Can Lead to Food Insecurity: Recent immigrants and those not originally from Australia face higher rates of food insecurity due to a lack of cultural knowledge on local food customs. These groups are more susceptible to food insecurity for a variety of other reasons as well, and, like indigenous groups in Australia, typically face higher rates of food insecurity.

Complex and Multifaceted

Hunger in Australia operates at multiple levels and impacts groups differently across a vast range of the socio-political spectrum. Due to this pervasiveness and complexity, the treatment of the hunger crisis in this developed nation will require a broad, multilateral approach.

– Ian Greenwood
Photo: Flickr

Understanding SMEs and Credit Access in Tanzania

Credit Access in Tanzania
Tanzania is a highly populous East African country with a rapidly growing economy. The country’s average GDP growth of an estimated six percent has indicated significant economic growth and opportunity in the past decade, but credit access in Tanzania remains a challenge for many of the nation’s 56 million people.

Credit Access in Tanzania

In fact, Tanzania scored 13th out of 15 countries in Sub Saharan Africa for credit accessibility. Credit access in Tanzania is vital for the financial success of the country, which has both an annually growing population in the workforce and a high rate of poverty.

As an emerging market, many enterprises in Tanzania have struggled with restricted credit access, and 70 percent of all Tanzanian Small and Medium Enterprises, or SMEs, have no formal credit access at all. In fact, only 15 percent of the population has formal access to credit through banks. This lack of credit does not mean that Tanzanians are not borrowing money, as over half of those in the labor market have taken loans at some point.

Small and Medium Enterprises Loans

Rather than access credit formally, however, approximately 63 percent of Tanzanians use friends and family to access loans. Conversely, formal bank loans only accounted for three percent of all bank deposits in Tanzania.

Credit access in Tanzania is particularly important for Small and Medium Enterprises. According to a 2017 study conducted by the University of Dodoma in the Tanzanian capital, banks and microfinance corporations have enough liquidity to offer Small and Medium Enterprises loans.

Owners of SMEs, however, perceive these formal loans to be high risk due to the high-interest rates, strict loan conditions and numerous collaterals placed on these loans. This study determined that the Tanzanian government should intervene in the nation’s market “to regulate the conditions and requirements for loans” financing SMEs. This could be done by establishing credit bureaus in large cities to increase credit access in Tanzania for SMEs.

Tanzania’s New Credit Plan

Due to the difficulty for many Tanzanians to formally obtain a loan, as well as the mistrust of the population in formal bank loans, the federal government has proposed a new solution for credit access in Tanzania. As of April 2018, the Tanzanian government has enacted a new credit plan to improve private lending and reduce the frequency of bad loans.

This regulation of interest rates in banks, however, is not intended to be a direct rate cap, and should not hinder banking sector growth. This plan had been presented before in 2011, but was rejected by the government for fears of restricting the free market. While this move may be beneficial for SMEs in Tanzania, some banks with capital ratio issues may be hurt by the policy, further negatively affecting the economy.

High-Interest, Low Loans

Limited credit access in Tanzania, much like other developing countries, constricts the country’s economy and scope of financial operations. While Tanzanians often seek loans from sources other than banks, SMEs and other aspects of the country’s private sector have suffered the negative consequences of high-interest rates and low loan offers from banks.

Although capital ratio issue in some banks complicates the possible credit solution, the government of Tanzania seeks to resolve these problems through its new credit plan in order to continue to augment the nation’s economic growth.

– Matthew Cline

Photo: Flickr

10 YSEALI Grants Impacting Youth in Southeast Asia

Top 10 YSEALI Grants Impacting Youth in Southeast Asia
Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) aims to accelerate progress and peace in the region and increase international cooperation.

What is YSEALI?

As part of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, the U.S. established the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in 2013 to help strengthen leadership development in Southeast Asia by targeting 18 to 35-year-olds. According to the initiative, “Approximately 65 percent of people in the ASEAN region are under the age of 35.”

YSEALI runs a Seeds for the Future program that provides small grants to youth in Southeast Asia through annual competitions. The program awards funding to projects within four issue areas: sustainable development, economic growth, civic engagement and education. These grants create better futures for youth in Southeast Asia.

Top 10 2018 YSEALI Grants

  1. Back2Communities is a convention in Brunei that facilitates discussions about the issues people with disabilities face in day-to-day life. The organization emphasizes teamwork and hosts brainstorming sessions at its conventions. YSEALI’s grant helps fund Back2Communities’ conventions and search for practical solutions.
  2. FIBERS hosts workshops to educate young fashion entrepreneurs and help them prosper in the fashion industry. This year, FIBERS is targeting Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines and pushing initiatives in sustainable unisex clothing and empowering underprivileged youth in Southeast Asia. The organization is also creating an online marketplace where young designers can sell their products.
  3. Kid+ is based in Hanoi, Vietnam and works with kids with disabilities and kids from low-income families. According to the organization, disadvantaged children are four times more likely to be victims of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Kid+ already has programs in three schools reaching over 400 students and teaching them about child rights, gender education and child sexual abuse prevention. YSEALI funds will help Kid+ expand to more schools in Hanoi.
  4. The Lao Film Academy (LFA) trains young filmmakers ages 18 to 22 to make films related to environmental protection. Young students receive direct contact with established filmmakers and gain important insights into the industry. LFA also does important work raising awareness for environmental issues and educating audiences about environmental protection.
  5. PREDIKT, which stands for Preparedness for Disaster Toolkit, works in the natural disaster-prone ASEAN region distributing toolkits that educate families about natural disasters. The toolkits also help families design disaster plans and include disaster supplies such as emergency torches, whistles and first-aid kits. PREDIKT has already distributed over 600 toolkits and YSEALI funds are helping the organization translate materials into more languages for wider distribution.
  6. The School of Coastal Environment (Schoove) is a fishery and marine incubator that educates students from coastal villages in coastal management, fishery-based social entrepreneurship and coastal housewife empowerment. Schoove has already reached more than 100 young leaders and women in Indonesia. The program gets young leaders more involved in the environment and coastal development.
  7. SHero was founded by a domestic violence survivor to encourage other survivors to share their stories. The founder is also a lawyer and SHero also encourages young lawyers to work with victims. Originally just in Thailand, SHero has expanded to Vietnam and the Philippines with YSEALI’s grant. SHero also plans to expand its platform to include sexual assault and other gender-based violence.
  8. Teach for ASEAN (T4A) was founded by three young leaders in Myanmar, and now T4A works in the entire Southeast Asian region. The project educates and empowers youth in Southeast Asia through training programs and community events. Many young people in the region lack job preparedness which leads to a large number of unemployed youth. Large rates of unemployment strain communities and increase poverty rates. An amazing 70 percent of T4A’s Workplace Skills Program’s first class is now employed or in vocational training.
  9. Tonkar Learning is an online learning program for Lao students that provides an opportunity for them to learn outside of the classroom. The program offers courses in math, physics and chemistry as well as test prep for Lao university entrance exams. YSEALI’s grant has been instrumental in the program’s development and also helps sponsor educational events for students.
  10. Viet Children’s Picture (VCP) works in public school districts outside of Ho Chi Minh City. These school districts only spend 45 minutes per week on art but VCP has established after-school classes in drawing, photography, crafting and dancing. Thanks to YSEALI funds, VCP has already reached over 450 students.

YSEALI’s Other Projects and Impacts

Outside of its Seeds for the Future program, YSEALI also sponsors professional and academic fellowships to the U.S. and hosts regional workshops for youth in Southeast Asia. Even after young leaders move on from YSEALI, many of them continue to make positive changes in their communities.

YSEALI has also inspired other young leaders in Brunei to establish Youth Against Slavery (YASBrunei) — Brunei’s first civil society to focus on people trafficking. Both through its small grants and its example, YSEALI is making huge impacts on youth in Southeast Asia.

– Kathryn Quelle

Photo: Flickr

History of Ebola in Mali

History of Ebola in Mali
History of Ebola in Mali began in October 2014 when Aminata Gueye Tamboura tried to protect her (non-biological) granddaughters from the Ebola outbreak in Guinea. They traveled back to her home in Mali by taxis, buses and public transportation, while one of the girls, Fanta Condé, had symptoms of fever and nosebleeds. The two-year-old was brought to the Fousseyni Daou Hospital and was diagnosed with Ebola on October 23. One day later, she passed away.

The Spread of Ebola in Mali

Condé’s diagnosis was especially alarming because of the amount of people she could have made contact with throughout their journey to Mali. Once notified, WHO tracked down and quarantined 108 people who may have been exposed to Condé. Notably, no one in that group showed symptoms throughout the 21-day quarantine and were released in November.

On October 27, a few days following Condé’s death, another Ebola victim passed away. The imam had travelled to Mali from Guinea in search of a treatment for kidney failure he had for about one month. While doctors did not diagnose him, kidney failure is associated with late-stage Ebola. Soon after his visit to the Pasteur Clinic in Bamako, a nurse became sick and died, raising concerns about Ebola. On November 11, the nurse’s diagnosis of Ebola was confirmed. The hospital and areas that the imam and nurse had visited were quarantined, allowing health authorities to learn that a doctor at the clinic had Ebola as well.

Preventing the Spread of Ebola in Mali

In response to these outbreaks, emergency teams made from organizations such as WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the United Nations and others were deployed in Mali. Certain groups already had a presence in Mali due to its shared borders with countries with Ebola outbreaks, allowing them to immediately take action. The history of Ebola in Mali was dramatically shorter than in neighboring African countries, largely because of the efforts of these organizations.

WHO, for example, was able to test blood samples in hours, hastening the process of diagnosis. They trained over 900 health workers to appropriately handle the outbreak. Preventative measures were taken as well; WHO provided hand washing facilities and temperature checks at hospital entry points.

In accordance with the tradition of diatiguiya, Mali did choose to keep its borders open. It continued to practice hospitality with its neighbors, despite the challenging circumstances at the time. Health checks were put in place, however, as preventative measures.

By January 6, 2015, the CDC had removed travel warnings in Mali, deeming it safe. On January 8, Mali was officially declared Ebola-free. The last Ebola patient tested negative on December 6, 2014, and no cases of ebola have come about since. The history of Ebola in Mali lasted a short few months because Mali effectively contained the virus wherever it appeared. In other West African countries, people were reluctant to believe in the Ebola virus and did not adhere to the recommended precautions, but Malians were more cooperative. The joint effort of citizens and aid groups ultimately lead to the successful containment of the Ebola virus in Mali.

– Massarath Fatima

Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Yemen

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Yemen
As uprisings in Yemen continue to intensify, over 22 million people (75 percent of the population) are in need of humanitarian assistance, making Yemen’s population the highest number of people in need compared to the rest of the world.

In addition, Yemen’s economy has declined since the GDP per capita decreased 61 percent and 1.25 million civil servants are not receiving their salaries. In recent years, basic food prices have increased by 98 percent and unemployment rates are as high as 50 percent. Since 2017, the population living below the poverty line in Yemen has increased by 30 percent, putting it at 79 percent.

Ahmed Shwaa, a 59-year-old farmer displaced by the war, said: “We were living in a peaceful area and we were eating what we planted. We do not care about politics, we are not men of war, all that matters is to live in peace. But now, we cannot provide food for our family and we cannot live in peace.” For the citizens of Yemen, each day continues to be a struggle for survival.

Top 10 Facts About Living Conditions in Yemen

  1. Since the uprisings began, over two million Yemeni civilians are victims of displacement. Among those displaced, 76 percent are women and children. Displacement is considered one of the key contributors to the country’s increasing poverty rate. To date, at least one million people have returned to their home regions.
  2. Over 60 percent of Yemen’s population (18 million people) are food insecure and 8.4 million of these people are on the verge of famine. Additionally, 16 million Yemenis do not have access to safe water and basic hygiene, especially in rural areas. As a result, cases of malnutrition have increased, causing 50 percent of children to be stunted. In addition, acute malnutrition is among 2.9 million women and children.
  3. Both Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State in Yemen (IS-Y) have claimed responsibility for various bombings in Yemen. According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the United States conducted 105 drone attacks that targeted AQAP and IS-Y that killed dozens in 2017. Moreover, the U.S. carried out two ground raids with the UAE, one of which killed 14 civilians and nine children.
  4. Armed conflict in Yemen has caused the country to be the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Despite efforts made by humanitarian organizations to provide aid, Saudi-led coalitions have imposed restrictions on imports that hinder such efforts. The coalition has delayed fuel tankers, closed vital ports and prevented goods from entering seaports. Houthi-Saleh groups have impounded food and medical supplies, denied populations access to aid and imposed restrictions on aid workers.
  5. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), 85 unlawful coalition airstrikes have killed almost 1,000 civilians and destroyed homes and cities. Some of these attacks are considered to be war crimes. In 2017, Saudi Arabia made a pledge to civilian casualties resulting from coalition attacks. However, the U.N. Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports that coalition airstrikes are “the leading cause of civilian casualties.”
  6. As conflict progresses in Yemen, violence against women does as well. Violence against women has increased by 63 percent, according to UNFPA. Forced marriage rates, like child marriage, have also increased. At least 72 percent of girls are married before the age of 18. Additionally, Yemeni women endure great discrimination in law, practice and a lack of legal protection.
  7. The cholera outbreak in Yemen has become the largest growing cholera outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 822,000 cases and 2,160 cholera-related deaths have emerged since the outbreak began in April 2017. Experts say the outbreak is manmade as a result of violence and other factors instigated by the war.
  8. A Saudi-led bombing campaign destroyed Yemen’s health system. Less than 50 percent of healthcare facilities are functioning, while 16 million people do not have access to basic health care. Since 2016, the government has failed to pay health workers regular salaries. Ghassan Abou Chaar, the Doctors Without Borders head of mission in Yemen said, “Health facilities aren’t receiving critical operational costs, making it nearly impossible for them to properly function.”
  9. Doctors Without Borders (DWB) was able to open 16 cholera treatment centers within the first five months of the outbreak and has treated over 80,000 Yemeni citizens. DWB has implemented various interventions that locate rehydration points throughout the country, bring in medical professionals and distribute cholera kits to the community.
  10. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been working to keep their humanitarian aid running despite restrictions made by Houthi-Saleh groups. ICRC supports local hospitals by training staff in first aid and is utilizing engineers to repair water infrastructure for Yemen. ICRC and the Yemen Red Crescent signed a partnership framework agreement with the mission of improving the capability of the Yemen Red Crescent to meet humanitarian needs.

Despite the top 10 facts about living conditions in Yemen, various humanitarian aid organizations are determined to improve such conditions. Hope remains that these conditions will improve so that Yemenis no longer have to struggle for survival.

– Diane Adame
Photo: Flickr

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Nicaragua

Nicaragua
Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Central America and has the lowest GDP per capita. The country’s economy has grown in recent years, but 40 percent of the population remains in poverty. As a result, hunger in Nicaragua is a major problem. Here are the top 10 facts about hunger in Nicaragua.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Nicaragua

  1. Of children under five in Nicaragua, 17 percent are chronically malnourished. A lack of access to consistent, quality food leads to issues like stunting in children. In order to counter these results, children need to live in homes without food insecurity so they can grow and live to their full potential.
  2. Rates of malnourishment are higher in rural areas of Nicaragua. In some regions, the amount of chronically undernourished children can reach up to 29 percent. These areas are typically more affected by poverty and have limited access to food supplies beyond through agricultural means.
  3. Stunting and below-average height in children under three in Nicaragua are higher than the national average. Issues like stunting are impossible to avoid in a country with high rates of food insecurity; Nicaragua is one of many low-income countries whose children suffer from undernourishment and stunting.
  4. Hunger in Nicaragua is influenced by the country’s geographic location. Nicaragua is susceptible to unpredictable natural disasters like droughts, floods and earthquakes that limit agricultural production. Without a reliable source of food, Nicaraguans are more prone to food insecurity.
  5. Around 70 percent of the population works in agriculture. Since farming is so reliant on weather patterns, people can often be stripped of their means to live instantly by a natural disaster. The country’s dependence on agriculture combined with its erratic weather leads to higher rates of poverty and hunger.
  6. The World Food Program (WFP) has worked in Nicaragua since 1971. The WFP tries to end the cycle of hunger by promoting health and education programs. They aim to create resilience among families that are living with poverty and hunger.
  7. Around 300,000 people in Nicaragua need food assistance. With many people’s livelihoods tied to the unpredictability of the weather, there are a significant number in need of help. Nonprofits like the WFP provide critical relief to the people most in need.
  8. Nicaragua ranks fourth on the Long-Term World Climate Risk Index. This Index is a ranking of countries that are the most vulnerable to climate events based on geographic location and socio-economic information. Nicaragua ranks behind Honduras, Haiti and Myanmar — two of which are located in the same unstable region in Central America.  
  9. Sustainable development is key to fighting hunger in Nicaragua. The WFP works to connect farmers with markets to sell their products, and expands farmers’ production capacity and in turn, their incomes.
  10. The Nicaraguan government uses a School Feeding Program to fight undernourishment in children. Providing school meals massively helps hunger in children, but there are still many children not attending school that are unreached. Programs like this are essential in fighting malnourishment in Nicaragua.

Fight Against Hunger

These top 10 facts about hunger in Nicaragua underscore the need for more sustainable agricultural practices. Thankfully, organizations like the WFP are active and can join the fight against hunger.

– Amelia Merchant
Photo: Flickr

A Brief History of Ebola in Sierra Leone

A Brief History of Ebola in Sierra Leone
The history of Ebola in Sierra Leone can be traced back to December of 2014. The illness started out slow and unsuspecting as it crept across the land until really solidifying its grasp in May and June.  From then on, the cases of Ebola continued to increase at an exponential rate.

The First Case and Subsequent Infection

The first case was that of an eighteen-month-old boy from a small village in Guinea. He was thought to have been infected by bats in the region. Soon after, other reports of Ebola-like symptoms became rapidly apparent. In March alone, there had been a reported 49 cases and 29 deaths.

One of the next infected was a house guest to the family of the index patient. She traveled home to Sierra Leone from Guinea unknowingly carrying the Ebola virus with her. She died shortly after her return due to the disease; however, her death was not investigated or reported until two other members of her family died.

The epidemic really began to flourish after the death of an infected traditional healer. The healer would treat Ebola patients across the border in Guinea but was a resident of Sierra Leone.

She eventually succumbed to the disease and a funeral service was held on her behalf; this is where the spread in Sierra Leone really increased. Thirteen women, all of whom attended the funeral, contracted the disease and eventually died as well.

A Death-Giving Funeral

Investigation processions commenced proceeding the funeral induced infections and it was found that 365 Ebola-related deaths started from that very funeral. It was also recognized that there were two strands of the virus present amongst the infected from the funeral.

In knowing the two variations of Ebola, researchers were able to retrospectively look for and trace the disease in blood samples. This made the containment of Ebola in Sierra Leone and respective infected regions much easier.

By the summer of 2014, the major town of Kailahun and its neighboring city Kenema were declared to be in a state of emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other affiliated aid agencies provided and concentrated their response teams in the area.

The Ebola Epidemic

Unfortunately, the unsatisfactory public health infrastructure, the impoverished living conditions and the lack of preparedness aided the rapid spreading of the disease. By halfway through July, the aid teams from the World Health Organization buried over 50 bodies in the span of just 12 days in Kailahun alone.

Approximately two years after the first Ebola case was discovered, there were 28,600 cases and a resulting 11,325 deaths reported. The epidemic finally came to an exhausted end when Sierra Leone declared itself officially Ebola-free in March 2016.

Constant Vigilance

Unfortunately, the history of Ebola in Sierra Leone has continued in 2018 as the virus reared its ugly head again in May. The vigilance in regards to Ebola in Sierra Leone improved tremendously over the years since the first epidemic but it is still quite difficult to contain and extinguish.

Countless families and civilians still face the mental effects of the calamity from both the initial epidemic and the most recent devastation.

– Samantha Harward

Photo: Flickr