Causes of Poverty in Mozambique

Causes of Poverty in MozambiqueMozambique, like many African countries, has suffered greatly from colonization, its conflicted wars of independence from their European oppressors, as well as the influence of the Cold War, where people were uncertain which form of government would bring their communities the most prosperity. The causes of poverty in Mozambique are similar to those of other African countries, but some are quite different.

Bunching an entire continent into the same group is easy. The average GDP per capita for African countries is around $3,300, while that of the world is much higher, at about $16,100 (only five African countries are above this number). Nearly all African countries have suffered a civil war or two in the last 100 years–12 countries were still experiencing civil war in 2016.

Does Mozambique fit this profile? With a GDP per capita of $1,128, it is well below average in purchasing power (PPP), even by African standards. It has also suffered from a civil war in the 1960s and 1970s, between the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and the Resistência Naciona, Moçambicana (RENAMO).

However, unlike some other countries like Ethiopia, which have been waging conflicts for decades up to the present day without relief, Mozambique enjoyed a significant time of peace between the years 1992 and 2015, when a peace treaty was signed with the RENAMO leader.

In the time between 1992 and 2015, the country eliminated all the landmines that were left over from the independence and proxy wars of the 20th century, which caused slow development and many amputees. Tourism and trade have increased as well, which resulted in a rise in GDP.

Although these political struggles are significant to the country’s economy, it is the natural disasters, such as drought, flooding and hurricanes that are ravaging the country. Floods affected well over 150,000 people in the years 2000, 2001 and 2008, displacing tens of thousands of individuals. A drought in 2009 caused a poor harvest, leading to 350,000 Mozambicans requiring food aid.

Additionally, Russian bans on Mozambique’s grains exports resulted in a food price crisis in the country, while it only increased food prices by five percent around the world. This crisis is in part due to continued tensions after the Cold War.

Additionally, there is the threat of another civil war between the RENAMO and FRELIMO groups, which caused the GDP to fall in the last two years.

The causes of poverty in Mozambique are numerous and complex. Between internal conflict, proxy wars and the climatic events resulting from global warming, Mozambique has had its share of struggle.

– Michal Burgunder

Photo: Flickr

Why is Afghanistan Poor?

Afghanistan Is PoorDespite an influx of international aid, 39 percent of Afghans live in poverty, and this number is increasing. A shocking 1.3 million more people are poor in Afghanistan today than in 2012. Why is Afghanistan poor? The country has experienced conflict since the Soviet Union invaded in 1979. Political transitions within the country also cause insecurity. Most households in Afghanistan are not established enough to cope with economic shocks or natural disasters. About 20 percent of Afghans live just above the poverty line and slight economic shocks could drive them into poverty.

One answer to the question ‘why is Afghanistan poor?’ is that the economy is too small for the growing labor force. Many workers are illiterate and looking for low skilled jobs, but there are not enough of these types of jobs. In 2016, Afghanistan’s GDP growth was 1.2 percent. While this was an increase, it is not enough to bring workers out of unemployment. Economists estimate that GDP growth needs to be eight percent to successfully employ the Afghan work force. Unfortunately, continuing conflict and insecurity within the country makes this growth unlikely.

Rural Afghanistan is poor due to its dependence on agriculture and informal labor markets. Low investments and natural disasters have hurt the agriculture market that most Afghans depend on for employment. Natural resources necessary for successful agriculture are lacking in Afghanistan. Compared to its population, there is little farmable land. Precipitation is scarce and there is insufficient irrigation infrastructure. In addition, the country has faced multiple debilitating droughts since 1999.

In rural areas, small-scale farmers and herders, landless people and women who are heads of households bear the largest burden of poverty. Women in Afghanistan face increased inequalities because they have less access to education and health services. A lack of skills or a medical condition can keep women out of the workforce. Widows account for a large population of the poor in Afghanistan. Due to fighting within the country, there may be over one million widows in Afghanistan. Most of these women have children to support. Unfortunately, the patriarchal society excludes them from many social and employment opportunities, so most become beggars.

Many countries and organizations have poured aid into the country. However, it does not seem to be helping. The inequality between the rich and poor in the country is increasing. Much of the aid went to build schools and hospitals, increase public services and repair infrastructure. While these human services are important, the agriculture sector continues to struggle, and rural households don’t have protection from economic shocks. In addition, the government did not always distribute funds fairly throughout the country.

Why is Afghanistan poor? Afghanistan is poor due to continuing shocks to the country, and it is necessary to build programs to insulate households from economic instability.

– Sarah Denning
Photo: Flickr

Human Rights Violations in Uganda

Human Rights Violations in UgandaUganda has undergone notoriously gruesome human rights violations. From the terror of the Lord’s Resistance Army to government discrimination against LGBTI groups, the human rights violations Ugandans have experienced have been treacherous. The recent election caused turmoil for Ugandans as many claim the process was neither impartial nor free as it should have been.

President Yoweri Museveni was elected for yet another five-year term in February 2016, putting him in power for at least the next 30 years. The election process was claimed to have been obstructed by removing the freedoms of expression, assembly and association of citizens. Violations of these freedoms were carried out by security forces.

Government officials and police repeatedly tried to keep journalists and media outlets out of commission by using physical force or by shutting down entire operations. For example, soldiers from the special forces stopped a local television station from covering some campaign meetings of the opposing candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Furthermore, the Uganda Communications Commission blocked social media sites on election day for what they said was “national security reasons.” These violations prevented the flow of information and obstructed citizens’ rights to obtain valuable information.

The police repeatedly interrupted campaign rallies for Besigye by using force against protesters and even arresting Besigye himself, detaining him before releasing him with no charges laid. Police even opened fire on FDC supporters in Kampala, killing one and injuring many others. Throughout the election process, the police targeted FDC supporters and anyone associated with Besigye’s campaign.

Although non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are allowed in the country, they are not given an easy pass. The NGO Act, which went into effect in March of 2016, vaguely presents its policy, leaving room for interpretation as to how it can be applied. Several NGO offices were broken into last year and thieves took computers, internet servers, projectors and more. Although a committee was formed to investigate, no progress on the case has been made.

These human rights violations in Uganda should be a concern for the country, the continent of Africa, and the world. They showcase just how far people can go in mistreating those who disagree with or challenge them. Hopefully with time and continued help from NGOs, human rights violations can be significantly reduced in the country of Uganda.

– Emily Arnold

Photo: Flickr

5 Causes of Poverty in Angola

Causes of Poverty in AngolaMore than 40 percent of people live below the poverty line in Angola, one of the largest but least-developed countries in Africa. Here are a few of the main causes of poverty in Angola.

5 Causes of Poverty in Angola

  1. Angola was embroiled in a civil war that lasted 27 years from 1975 to 2002.During that time, more than one million people were killed. Though many of the displaced population has returned home, the country has not had the time to combat poverty. The war destroyed important infrastructures, such as schools, hospitals, railways and bridges. Angola is still rebuilding. Aid and oil sales to China have helped improve the economy, but the country has a long way to go.
  2. A high fertility rate. Contraceptive use and family planning education is low in Angola. Consequently, it has the ninth- highest fertility rate in the world. On average, a woman gives birth to more than five kids in her lifetime. A high birth rate is problematic because it strains resources. The more children a family has, the harder it is for families to give all children the nutrition their bodies need. This is evidenced by the high child mortality rate. One in four children will not reach his or her fifth birthday. In addition, mothers with many children to care for are often restricted to home life. A lower birth rate might increase the number of female workers and output per capita.
  3. A struggling health sector. Angola’s decades-long civil war ended 17 years ago, but its healthcare sector has not fully recovered. The fighting destroyed medical facilities and caused many doctors to flee the country. There is only one doctor per 10,000 people. This physician shortage is especially detrimental in Angola, where nearly 300,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. Thousands more contract malaria, bacterial diarrhea or other infectious diseases. Many cases are due to unsafe water and unsanitary toilets. About half of the population depends on unimproved water and restroom access. A lack of trained medical professionals, equipment and facilities is a cause of poverty in Angola because sick Angolans have difficulty finding treatment and getting back to work. Some die from treatable or preventable diseases like polio. A death in a family could leave it with fewer sources of income or create orphaned children. Angola has taken measures to reduce rates of disease and infection, such as child vaccinations in the capital. But Angola still has one of the lowest health expenditures in the world at 3.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Due to Angola’s poor healthcare, its life expectancy has increased, but it is still quite low at just 61 years old. Such a drastically low life expectancy cuts years, even decades, from Angolans’ earning potential.
  4. Low education rates. Because of the high fertility rate, 42 percent of Angola’s 25 million inhabitants are under 15 years old. Many of these children do not complete their education. In rural areas, where the majority of Angolans live, schools can be few and far between. Children may have to walk long distances to school, which is a disincentive to attending. Education comes with additional fees for books and supplies, causing families with limited incomes to pull their children out of school. With children out of school, families can save money or have their children make money on a family farm or through another employer. If a poor family opts to provide education for only one child, it is usually for a boy. On average, males complete 13 years of school and females only complete eight. Ruined classrooms and untrained teachers further restrict the availability of quality education. Angola’s education expenditure is 3.5 percent of its GDP. Children and adults cannot unravel the cycle of poverty without education because they cannot get good jobs to help improve their standard of living. In this way, a lack of education is both a result and a cause of poverty in Angola.
  5. Unequal distribution of wealth. Finally, an unbalanced economy, coupled with corrupt elites, is one of the causes of poverty in Angola. Despite 55 percent of Angolans living on less than $1 a day, the capital, Luanda, is the most expensive city in the world. It and other urban areas benefit from the oil sector, which is the second-largest in Africa. Oil and diamond extraction brings a lot of revenue to Angola, but much of the wealth stays with large companies and elite individuals, like politicians. Transparency International ranked Angola as 164 out of 176 countries on its Corruption Perceptions Index. Angolan authorities and oligarchs have a reputation of taking from the poor to make themselves richer. According to an article in The Economist, “officials seize state assets through rigged privatizations or rip off the public treasury in bail-outs of private companies. At almost every turn, someone connected to the state is seeking a pay-off.” In addition, some complain that the Angolan government spends money in the wrong places. Angola has a $44 billion federal budget, yet local officials say they do not have funds to provide running water. Instead, the government spent more than $1 billion on four stadiums for a football tournament.

Understanding Poverty in Angola

The devastation of war, the high fertility rate, limited access to healthcare, lack of quality education for all and income inequality partially due to government corruption are the primary causes of poverty in Angola. Fortunately, there is evidence of improvements. The government is beginning to expand its economy which will create jobs. It is also making strides to become transparent, which can increase accountability. Plus, Angola is investing in water, electricity and transportation to improve the lives of its people. Nonprofit organizations also help impoverished Angolans by providing healthcare and schools. With time and effort, Angola’s poverty rate should decrease.

– Kristen Reesor

Photo: Flickr

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How to Help the Extreme Poor in India

How to Help the Extreme Poor in IndiaIndia is the second most populous country in the world and hosts one-third of the world’s extreme poor. It has the third highest number of people living with and dying from HIV/AIDS, and 60.4 percent of its population lives with unimproved sanitation facility access, mostly affecting Indians living in rural communities. Here are four ways to help the extreme poor in India.

Donate
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 47 percent of Indian girls are married by the age of 18. While it is illegal for girls in India to marry before the age of 18, many still do because their families live in poverty.

One method to combat child marriage is education. The non-profit Girls Not Brides, for example, is currently fundraising for Shadhika, an organization that pays tuition for at-risk Indian girls. Right now, they are $8,568 away from a $30,000 goal.

Donations to this cause enable more Indian girls living in extreme poverty to attend school and avoid underage marriage. By donating to this and other similar organizations, those who are not currently in India can still assist those in poverty.

Contact Congress
For 2017, the U.S. government plans to spend $49.5 million of foreign aid on health in India.  Half of this aid will be allocated for HIV/AIDS. To ensure the effectiveness of this aid, Congress is currently in the process of potentially passing the Global Health Innovation Act (H.R. 1660).

This act requires the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to give an annual report to Congress describing the “development and use of global health innovations” in their work.

Emailing or calling elected representatives will support this bill on top of promoting the use of health innovation to achieve an HIV/AIDS-free generation. Representatives need to know that their constituents are interested in a goal in order for it to get the attention it deserves.

Shop
Shopping is another way to help the extreme poor in India. Currently, about ten million Indian women are commercial sex workers–the Anchal Project wants to change that.

The Anchal Project employs Indian women, 85 percent of whom were once in the sex trade, to create and make original designs for ecologically sound clothing and fabrics (mainly scarves).

Shopping here will support women in their goal of earning full-time employment and leading change in their families and communities, in effect supporting the extreme poor in working their way out of poverty.

Stay Informed
As most of the world’s poor live in India, the country is a great focus for The Borgen Project and other organizations working to fight poverty. Read up on current struggles and efforts to improve conditions for the poor in India to better learn how you can keep helping in the future.

While people are often told that they as an individual can change the world, it often seems that the change desired is too arduous to achieve. Nevertheless, a community of people can come together to end global poverty and help the extreme poor in India.

– Sean Newhouse

Photo: Flickr

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Six of the Most Common Diseases in Morocco

Six Most Common Diseases in MoroccoThe North African country of Morocco is currently home to more than 33.5 million individuals, many of whom fall victim to various food, waterborne and vectorborne diseases. The following list compiles some of the most common diseases in Morocco:

  • Hepatitis A interferes with the functioning of the liver and spreads through consumption of food contaminated with fecal matter. Similarly, hepatitis E affects the liver through fecal contamination of drinking water. While these types of diseases are often a result of poor sanitation, vaccines are available for treatment.
  • Typhoid fever is another one of several severe and common diseases in Morocco, characterized as a bacterial disease spread through contact with food or water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage.
  • Schistosomiasis is a water contact disease caused by the parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma. The larval form of the parasite penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated water, allowing worms to mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys and intestines and ultimately manifest as either urinary or intestinal issues.
  • Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by Leishmania parasites, spread by sandflies. The vector-borne disease has become increasingly prevalent in Morocco as a major public health threat, affecting nearly two million people annually.
  • Malaria is transmitted via the bite of a mosquito. Parasites quickly spread in the liver and attack red blood cells, resulting in flu-like symptoms of fever, chills and, if left untreated, sometimes death. Malaria certainly falls under the list of common diseases in Morocco, as 90 percent of cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease and ranges in its severity. While the disease’s fatality rate is less than 20 percent, some may experience severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever.

A large number of deaths over the years due to common diseases in Morocco can be overwhelming and make solutions seem nearly impossible. However, it is important to recognize improvements that have been made in areas of sanitation and medical implementation while still remaining aware of those at risk.

– Mikaela Frigillana

Photo: Flickr

Why is the Cost of Living in Norway So High?

Why Is the Cost of Living in Norway So High?
With its capital, Oslo, ranked as the 59th most expensive city in the world, Norway is anything but cheap. The high cost of living in Norway is a result of its egalitarian social system, which relies on a value-added tax system and minimal variations between incomes among its citizens to sustain its unique economy and socioeconomic structure. However, the social welfare system provided by the Norwegian government as well as the low unemployment rate in Norway are the positive results of the pricey standard of living.

A key feature that defines the high cost of living in Norway is the increased tax rate. From income tax (starting at 28 percent) to value-added tax, Norway’s tax structure strengthens its egalitarian social system. One of the benefits of using this type of social system is that there is a very minimal differentiation between incomes in Norway. This prevents wage-gaps and renders social classes in Norway to practically nonexistent.

While inadequate pay for minimum wage is a problem among many developed countries, Norway has abandoned this concept all together. Most citizens in different employments sectors, from education to food service, earn a living wage. Although this boosts the price of common goods significantly, it also ensures that Norway’s working class does not become impoverished. This socioeconomic ideology is responsible for reducing Norway’s unemployment rate to a minuscule 3.4 percent.

Education, health care and transportation in Norway are all subsidized by the government. High taxes provide for quality public services. This is especially evident in health care for Norwegian families; cash-for-care benefits, as well as free prenatal visits, including maternal and paternal leave, are all covered by the Norwegian government.

Mutual functionalism between Norway’s citizens and government not only allows its economy to thrive but its democratic process too as well. By rewarding workforce participation with quality social welfare, the Nordic model is an economic solution to ensure societal development. Although the cost of living in Norway may seem inopportune at first glance, there is no doubt that the Norwegian social system provides exceptional benefits for its citizens.

– Kaitlin Hocker
Photo: Flickr

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How to Help People in Cuba

Help People in Cuba
Since the 1990s, Cuba has been in a severe economic slump. Every day, Cubans face shortages of everything from food to medical supplies to clothes. The Cuban state struggles daily with crumbling infrastructure and inadequate housing and transportation. In light of these tough financial times, it is useful to know how to help people in Cuba.

 

Effective Ways to Help People in Cuba

 

Political outreach
The U.S. embargo of Cuba is responsible in large part for the inaccessibility of everything from food to internet access. For more than 50 years, U.S.-Cuban relations have been dominated by the governments of the two countries. It is high time for more U.S. citizens to become involved in the relationship.

Americans can help Cubans by advocating for better relations and an ease of the embargo to their elected officials. U.S.-Cuba relations are a low-priority issue for most Americans. A little effort from American citizens alongside a little political outreach can go a long way.

Visit Cuba
Tourism is Cuba’s second-largest industry today. International visitors directly address the country’s desperate need to inject foreign money into the country’s struggling economy. Even with the new travel restrictions, visiting Cuba can be a fun and rewarding way to help Cubans. Tourists can have the most positive impact by utilizing privately-owned services such as casas particulares instead of chain-run hotels.

Donate
When visiting Cuba, tourists can do more than put money into the Cuban economy. Most Cubans are unable to access goods such as clothes, medicines and necessary technologies such as flash drives. One of the best ways to help Cubans is to bring as many of these items as possible on a trip to Cuba. Visitors can give these products out to the Cubans that they meet or donate them to specific charities such as the Cuban Red Cross, health clinics or orphanages.

Volunteer
Those who want to help the people in Cuba beyond taking a beach vacation to Varadero can volunteer with various organizations that work to address the needs of the Cuban people. Two prominent groups with special volunteer programs in Cuba are First-Hand Aid and Global Volunteers.

In planning their service, volunteers should be careful to research the mission and impact of each organization. In the past, some charities have run programs with special interests that do not always benefit the Cuban people.

Support domestic charities
Americans can still help the Cuban people without leaving home. There are numerous advocacy groups based in the U.S. and Europe that also work to help the Cuban people through donations and advocacy.

Americans can support these efforts by donating to organizations such as Connect Cuba and Care.org. Again, because of the contentious history of U.S.-Cuba relations, it is important that donors and supporters research each organization’s work and verify that their money will help Cubans.

It can be complicated to figure out how to help people in Cuba. Not every method or charitable organization may have the best impact for Cubans. Nonetheless, the options above offer great opportunities to help the hard-pressed people of Cuba.

– Bret Anne Serbin

Photo: Google

10 Facts About Comoros Refugees

10 Facts About Comoros Refugees
The Comoros is a small island north of Madagascar. It is one of the least populous countries in the world, with a total population of 826,009. The number of Comoros refugees has decreased tremendously since 2001. Here are 10 facts about Comoros refugees and why the number has diminished significantly.

  1. Eighty-three percent of asylum applications from Comoros refugees were rejected in 2016. The most successful were the refugees in France, because of the two countries’ close diplomatic relations.
  2. In 2016, zero Comoros refugees were accepted into other European countries, such as Italy, England, Greece and Germany.
  3. Approximately 294 people applied for asylum in 2016.
  4. In 2004, 13.5 percent of the population of Comoros lived on less than $1.90 per day. This has improved, impressively, with the help of a poverty reduction strategy created by the country’s president in 2012.
  5. Many of the human rights problems reported in 2001 had to do with meager prison conditions, restrictions on freedom, corruption, discrimination, child abuse and child labor. The reported restrictions on freedom encompassed religion, movement and the press.
  6. These reported human rights violations were valid reasons for seeking asylum. However, conditions in Comoros have improved in the last decade. In regards to freedom of the press, the Comoros’ press freedom index was at 24.33 in 2016, down from 24.52 the previous year (the lower the number, the more freedom, meaning freedom of the press has improved recently).
  7. The child mortality rate fell to 73.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2004 it was 99.4, and in 2001 it was 100.8.
  8. Life expectancy in 2001 was 59.5 years, and a decade later it was 62.2. In 2015, life expectancy has increased to 63.6.
  9. The rate of literacy among adults in 2000 was 68 percent. By 2015, it rose to 78 percent.
  10. The overall prosperity score for Comoros is showing a steady increase. In 2007, the score was 43.12. In 2016, the value was at 47.71.

Using various measures of a country’s overall success, child mortality rate, life expectancy, literacy rate, and overall prosperity, we see improvements in life in Comoros. Citizens of Comoros are no longer fleeing persecution or meager conditions. These 10 facts about Comoros refugees display the progress made in the last decade and a half.

– Lucy Voegeli

Photo: Flickr

Plans to Prevent the Degradation of Water Quality in Brunei

Water Quality in Brunei
Brunei is a sovereign state located in Southeast Asia. Landlocked on all sides by Sarawak in Malaysia except for its South China Sea coastline, the country became a highly industrialized state after it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. The country has a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures and rainfall. Water quality in Brunei has the potential to decrease in the future if action is not taken.

Surface water supply, which makes up about 99 percent of water utilized for all purposes in Brunei, comes from the four river basins of Brunei: Daerah Tutong, Kuala Belait and Temburong. The Brunei River’s upper reaches have been a major freshwater source for the western part of the country. Despite being used for everything from transportation to waste disposal, it has largely been unaffected due to its natural capacity for self-purification.

High levels of water pollution in the Brunei River have been traced to wastewater treatment plants, industrial discharge, and polluted streams. The government has identified population density and urban catchment systems as the most common reasons for the level of pollution prevalent in rivers, especially Brunei. Point and non-point pollution sources – including residential, industrial and agricultural outlets – are currently the main sources of pollution in Brunei River.

Domestic wastes and surface runoff in the rivers of Brunei constitute about 50 percent and 29 percent, respectively, of the load discharged into water courses. An increase in population and greater economic development is likely to have adverse effects on water quality in Brunei.

In the Sungai Liang and Seria areas of the Belait district and in the Berakas area of the Brunei-Muara district, limited reserves of groundwater have been identified.
The country is considering taking steps to address the water problem, including introducing legislation to improve watershed protection and manage pollution.

Six government treatment plants in different parts of the country maintain good drinking water quality in Brunei. Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Brunei Shell’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) operate private water treatment plants. Bottled water factories make use of advanced water technology in purifying drinking water for the local population.

Under the Tenth National Development Plan, upgrades to existing monitoring systems and quality management frameworks have been proposed by the government. Despite the fact that 99.9 percent of the population is now provided with clean water, the government has evinced intent to maintain high levels and quality of water in the country in order to meet the changing demands of an increasing population and accommodate rapid industrial development.

Water conservation and sustainability measures have been proposed to maintain the supply and distribution of clean water in the country. New designs in focusing on riverside development and integrated water resource management plans have also been unveiled. This has included construction of new water infrastructure, including drainage systems and treatment plants, and further upgrading. Enhancement of water quality monitoring is being proposed with a new water lab and 11 new water quality parameters.

The country has built reservoirs and dams to help prevent seawater intrusion and manage its river flow, utilized hydrological data network with technological advances, secured international cooperation from countries like Singapore and improved water quality monitoring. Furthermore, the country has had initial success in adapting to the threats of climate change.

It is also managing its water resources and provisions by utilizing the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) framework’s goals and action plans. Together, these steps will sustain and enhance the quality of life, together with improving water quality in Brunei, for all Bruneians.

– Mohammed Khalid

Photo: Flickr