Pakistan has been a longstanding host to Afghan refugees, providing asylum for over four decades. Migration to Pakistan continues to be a necessity for many Afghans seeking safety and stability.
About Migration to Pakistan
As of October 2024, Pakistan shelters approximately 1.35 million registered Afghan refugees, while the government estimates an additional 600,000 Afghans have entered the country since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. This influx has placed immense pressure on Pakistan’s economic and social infrastructure, as the country struggles with rising inflation, political instability and security concerns.
Since October 2023, the Pakistani government has tightened its policies, announcing the Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP), which aims to expel undocumented foreigners, primarily targeting Afghan refugees. Nearly 600,000 Afghans have already returned to Afghanistan, fearing arrest or deportation. The situation raises serious humanitarian concerns, as many returnees face poverty, unemployment and insecurity in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Role as a Host Country
Pakistan has been one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. Afghan refugees migrated to Pakistan in multiple waves, beginning with the Soviet invasion in 1979, followed by the civil wars of the 1990s, and the U.S.-led war on terror in the 2000s. The most recent crisis emerged after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, prompting many Afghans—particularly women, journalists and activists—to flee due to threats of persecution.
For decades, migration to Pakistan has been a safe refuge for Afghans escaping conflict and oppression in Afghanistan. Despite its economic struggles, Pakistan has facilitated education, health care and work opportunities for many Afghan refugees. Several international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have collaborated with the Pakistani government under the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) to provide legal protection, assistance and voluntary repatriation programs. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the UNHCR launched the UNHCR-PPAF Empowerment Initiative in 2019. This program aims to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan by improving their livelihoods. Since its inception, the initiative has provided vocational training to more than 11,000 refugees and host community members, supported 900 Afghan refugee families through the Poverty Graduation Programme, and helped 2,000 refugee women develop artisanal skills. However, increasing domestic challenges have led Pakistan to reconsider its long-term refugee policies.
Deportation and Legal Complexities
Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, which means it has no legal obligation to grant asylum under international refugee law. However, the principle of non-refoulement, a core aspect of international humanitarian law, prohibits states from forcibly returning refugees to a country where they face persecution or harm.
The Pakistani government argues that security conditions in Afghanistan have stabilized, and many refugees do not face a “serious or credible” threat upon return. Additionally, Pakistan’s strained economy and security concerns—including the rise in cross-border terrorism—have contributed to harsher policies against undocumented Afghan nationals. This has led to mass deportations, which human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized as inhumane and unlawful.
Challenges That Afghan Refugees are Facing
Afghan refugees in Pakistan struggle with economic hardship, discrimination, and legal uncertainty. Many lack official documentation, making it difficult to access formal employment, education and health care. Women and children, in particular, face higher risks of exploitation and poverty.
As negative perceptions regarding refugees in Pakistan become more prevalent, fears of unforeseeable arrests and harassment by police are increasing among the Afghan refugees. Various reports suggest that under the threats of deportation, many refugees left for Afghanistan after selling their possessions at low prices, returning to a life of poverty and insecurity. While inadequacy of basic services in Afghanistan persists, forced repatriation in the absence of sustainable reintegration plans further debilitates Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
International Response and the Way Forward
UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations have questioned Pakistan for its forced expulsion of the Afghan refugees. Voluntary repatriation and long-term integration policies have been the key aspects of UNHCR’s proposals, which offers economic and logistical assistance to both refugees and host populations.
Although the international community, inclusive of European Union and the United States, has partaken in the provision of financial assistance to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and adjacent nations, the fundraising effort have been insufficient in meeting the actual funding requirements, restraining the success of the humanitarian efforts. In order to address the dire Afghan refugee situation mindfully, a regional scheme incorporating Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the international stakeholders is needed more than ever.
Conclusion
Even though Pakistan is increasingly challenged by its economic and security issues, tackling the Afghan migration to Pakistan situation humanely and diplomatically remains essential for its stability. Afghan refugees are more than uprooted individuals – they possess the skills and resilience to contribute to both their sponsoring nations and their native land.
With investment in education, labor force and legal channels, the regional and international stakeholders will likely be able to provide enduring solutions that improve the conditions of the refugees and the indigenous communities.
– Syeda Khadija Zafar
Syeda is based in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Pixabay
The State of Lebanon’s Medical System
Impact on Medical Infrastructure and Personnel
The conflict has resulted in repeated strikes on hospitals and medical centers across Lebanon. Between October 2023 and November 2024, 226 health workers and patients lost their lives, while another 199 suffered injuries. Although international humanitarian law protects medical facilities during armed conflicts, Lebanon’s health care workers have endured significant casualties and disruptions. The Rafik Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, the city’s largest medical facility, sustained heavy damage from an airstrike. Reports indicate that 13 people were killed and more than 60 others injured, further diminishing Lebanon’s ability to provide critical medical care.
Health Care System Under Economic Strain
A weakened economy had already placed Lebanon’s health care system under significant pressure before the war escalated. As of May 2024, 44% of the population lived in poverty, with rates reaching 70% in Akkar, one of the country’s poorest regions. A prolonged liquidity crisis devalued the Lebanese pound, making it increasingly difficult for hospitals to purchase essential medicines, retain medical staff or maintain equipment. Many public hospitals struggle to function due to a lack of financial resources.
International Aid Organizations
Several international organizations continue to provide medical aid, transport and disease prevention programs, working to preserve access to health care across the country.
Future Prospects
At the beginning of 2023, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health introduced Vision 2030, a long-term strategy aimed at revitalizing Lebanon’s medical system. However, the ongoing conflict has severely hindered its implementation, making immediate health care recovery efforts more urgent. International organizations and humanitarian groups continue to provide critical support, but Lebanon’s health care sector remains under immense strain. Rebuilding medical infrastructure, securing funding and addressing the long-term psychological and physical health consequences of the war remain significant challenges. Continued international aid, government intervention and economic recovery efforts could play a crucial role in determining the future of Lebanon’s medical system.
– Charley Dennis
Photo: Flickr
Mica Mining in Madagascar: Ending Child Labor
What Is the Issue?
Mica mining is dangerous as there is a risk of “landslides, burial, physical injuries from falling into holes, respiratory infections, suffocation, ocular infections and blindness due to mica particles.” Beyond the physical dangers, child labor in the mines also deprives children of education, limiting their future opportunities.
The mica mining industry in Madagascar lacks the legal frameworks that help protect its workers and sustain the business. The volumes of mica collected in Madagascar “are exported to China at relatively low prices that lead to uneven value distribution.” This means that the people working in mines get paid lower wages and are forced to send their children to work.
Solutions
The financial burden placed on these families helps explain why it was “found that cash transfers were the most effective basis among various programmes that aim to improve access to education.” Having the finances to send children to school could significantly reduce the number of children forced into mica mining in Madagascar.
The Madagascar Shines project is a program dedicated to improving the mica mining industry in Madagascar and reducing child labor. It aims to help communities “through community engagement, coordination and capacity building.” The program was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. Its strategy targets improvement through various areas such as households and livelihood services, officials, organizations, public awareness and more.
Empowering Women
Women’s income has been shown to have a direct positive impact on their families. Building on this approach, Pact, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing child labor in mining, implements its WORTH community banking program to empower women by helping them save money, generate income and develop new skills. The program also provides key information on positive parenting, the importance of education and the dangers of child labor. By supporting women, these efforts can ultimately help reduce the number of children working in Madagascar’s mica mining industry.
Providing child care services is a crucial way to support women and their children. The nonprofit Pact is exploring two child care program models to ensure children have a safe place to go. One model involves services promoted by the private sector and local authorities. At the same time, the other would be supported by mica processing centers committed to offering safe child care options for their employees.
Good News
Positive changes are already being made to improve mica mining in Madagascar. Some mica processing centers have already agreed to undergo an analysis to implement child care centers. Additionally, “parents of 265 children in four mining communities have agreed to enroll their children in child care centers.” These are promising signs of these centers’ need for and future success.
Targeting women to reduce child labor is also showing results, as “approximately 200 women from mica households are now members of WORTH groups.” Women are being taught how to use their wages best to support their families. This will decrease the need to send children to mines. They are also learning about the importance of education for their children and the best ways to take care of their futures.
The lives of children are already being impacted, as “about 500 children are now out of mining and supported with direct educational services.” “Approximately 1,500 children from mica communities are also maintained in school.” Mica mining in Madagascar is still a significant issue impacting many families. However, there is hope for progress to be made. Continued support and awareness of this issue is vital to its continued success.
– Sydney Morrow
Photo: Flickr
Poetry in Somalia: Using an Age-Old Art Form to Build Peace
The Somali Storytellers
The Somali Storytellers is a group of young poets who have banded together in hopes of reaching the people of Somalia, particularly the younger generations who will be shaping the future of the country. The group produces influential works of art and performances that bring out the nation’s history and ancient culture but also get a touch of modernity.
The UNDP founded a Digital Storytelling Bootcamp that took 20 young Somalis and trained them on how to share their meaningful stories around the world using whatever technology they had available such as smartphones or computers. After the training, the poets went on a field trip to Mogadishu where they could record and create stories in public with their community.
Zahra Abdihagi
There were 400 candidates, including Zahra Abdihagi. Although she faced fierce competition from other applicants, her remarkable accomplishments as a writer and storyteller, along with her efforts to promote social change, helped her to rise to the top.
Zahra received a high school education in Canada, and before she had even graduated, she had succeeded in publishing a book of short stories. Since graduating and returning to her home, she has won several awards for her poetry writing. In her efforts to write poetry in Somalia, she has won awards such as placing third in a Somali-language international poetry competition.
After she and the other 20 applicants went through a six-week course on the introduction of storytelling creation using smart technology, Zahra is now a part of other creative workshops, aiding in training 30 other young Somali people in the art of fables. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit and everyone became isolated, she encouraged the youth to express themselves and share messages with the people to stay safe.
Digital Shelter
In 2020, Digital Shelter asked the women of Somalia to share their stories about these incidents which became a story and a media-driven campaign called the Without Fear project. In 2021, on International Women’s Day, Digital Shelter launched The Cabsi La’aan – The Without Fear Project. Zahra wrote a story that ended up across social media worldwide, reaching also thousands of women in Somalia.
Her poem speaks to the issues she and other Somali women experience online and in their communities. Every day online, women receive attacks on several different fronts including account hacking, blackmailing and various other forms of online bullying. By creating this poetry in Somalia, women can fight back against cyber attacks.
The Somali Storytellers are currently in the process of forming their own company as well. Zahra said, “I see a great future for us. Lots of young people are already asking how they can become storytellers themselves.” Many people are also donating to their cause via their website.
The Future of Poetry in Somalia
Many young Somali Storytellers are currently making their debut as filmmakers. They have recently screened a digital story collection called “Me and My Somalia,” a series highlighting the innovation, resilience, and challenges that Somali communities face. In their ideal future, digital storytelling will be widely available, Somali culture will be accurately portrayed and the media will be crucial in fostering constructive community transformation.
– Taylor Naquin
Photo: Flickr
Disability and Poverty: Barriers to Education and Health Care
How Disability and Poverty Intersect
Families caring for children with disabilities often face higher costs for medical treatment, assistive devices and specialized education. In low-income countries, where disability resources are limited, these families struggle to meet their children’s basic needs. The lack of accessible schools forces many disabled children into isolation, depriving them of an education and future employment opportunities. Estimates suggest that 10% of children with disabilities do not receive basic rights such as education, health care or legal protection. In many cases, government policies fail to address these needs, leaving families without adequate support. Without systemic intervention, these children remain trapped in cycles of poverty, unable to access opportunities that could improve their quality of life.
Global Efforts to Address Disability and Poverty
International organizations play a crucial role in advocating for children with disabilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) leads initiatives to educate the public on disability rights and push for policy changes that promote inclusion. WHO also supports the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), implemented in 2019, which provides a global framework for integrating disability rights into development efforts. In addition to global advocacy, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) address disability and poverty at a local level.
Accomplish Children’s Trust, a United Kingdom (U.K.)-based nonprofit, focuses on medical intervention, education access and income generation for children with disabilities in Uganda and Malawi. Many of these children previously lacked access to health care and schooling, but the organization works to integrate them into support systems that improve their long-term well-being.
The Role of NGOs in Reducing Disability Inequality
The Importance of Awareness and Policy Change
Governments and international organizations have begun increasing efforts to address the challenges faced by children with disabilities. While progress has been made, raising awareness remains critical to ensuring disability rights receive sustained attention. Increased public engagement could drive policy changes, secure funding and expand successful programs to reach more children in need. Addressing disability-related poverty requires coordinated efforts from governments, NGOs and the global community. Investments in accessible education, health care and employment programs could not only improve the lives of children with disabilities but also contribute to broader economic and social development.
– Kaleb Monteith
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Food Insecurity in Haiti
Food Insecurity in Haiti and the Malfety Canal
A variety of reasons make it hard for Haiti to feed itself, one of them being its reliance on imported goods. Improving infrastructure could be beneficial in lessening dependence on other countries’ goods and ensuring a more sustainable way for Haiti to feed itself in the future. Different organizations, such as P4H Global, raise money to support community-led building for canals, bridges and various other infrastructures that allow Haiti to become self-sufficient and feed itself.
According to the P4H Global, the Malfety Canal will allow the water located at the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti to be distributed to the Malfety community. The Mafety Canal will irrigate about 7,000 agricultural land leading to a consistent water supply during dry seasons, and improved crop production by providing controlled water. The controlled water supply will then lead to more diverse crop production and better economic growth for Haiti because it will provide a more stable income for farmers and better prices for consumers. The water will allow the Haitians to start producing food for their people and start the end of the substantial imported goods.
How WFP Is Fighting Food Insecurity in Haiti
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is currently helping feed people in Haiti. The WFP first started helping Haiti back in 1969. It then partnered with the World Bank back in 2019 to maximize its impact on countries struggling with food insecurity. With food insecurity in Haiti getting worse, the WFP, the World Bank and local NGOs have been providing food assistance for hot meals, cash transfers and school feeding programs to ensure that the people are being fed.
Combating Climate Challenges
The World Bank is working tirelessly to help Haiti combat climate issues through climate-smart agriculture. The organization first started helping Haiti through the Emergency Resilience Agriculture for Food Security project in March 2022. The World Bank claims that practicing climate-smart agriculture such as irrigation systems helps minimize the damage of natural disasters which overall leads to the Haitian community not having to rebuild every time there is a catastrophe. The project developed in 2022 has currently led to irrigation and drainage on 2,244 hectares. The World Bank is also funding 115 all-inclusive agricultural schools to teach the Haitians about farming impacting 21,739 farmers (44% of whom were women), covering an agricultural area of 11,113 hectares.
Looking Ahead
In response to food insecurity in Haiti, organizations around the globe are helping Haiti. P4H Global, an organization run by Haitian citizens and descendants, is building infrastructure like the Malfety Canal to provide a reliable water supply for agriculture. Meanwhile, the WFP and the World Bank are working together to feed the Haitian people through hot meals, cash transfers and school feeding programs. Climate challenges have also impacted Haiti but organizations like the World Bank are working with the Haitian people by teaching and providing them with climate-smart agriculture. Hopefully, these efforts will reduce food insecurity in Haiti moving forward.
– Naysa Saint Fleur
Photo: Flickr
Migration to Pakistan and the Afghan Refugee Crisis
About Migration to Pakistan
As of October 2024, Pakistan shelters approximately 1.35 million registered Afghan refugees, while the government estimates an additional 600,000 Afghans have entered the country since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. This influx has placed immense pressure on Pakistan’s economic and social infrastructure, as the country struggles with rising inflation, political instability and security concerns.
Since October 2023, the Pakistani government has tightened its policies, announcing the Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP), which aims to expel undocumented foreigners, primarily targeting Afghan refugees. Nearly 600,000 Afghans have already returned to Afghanistan, fearing arrest or deportation. The situation raises serious humanitarian concerns, as many returnees face poverty, unemployment and insecurity in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Role as a Host Country
Pakistan has been one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. Afghan refugees migrated to Pakistan in multiple waves, beginning with the Soviet invasion in 1979, followed by the civil wars of the 1990s, and the U.S.-led war on terror in the 2000s. The most recent crisis emerged after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, prompting many Afghans—particularly women, journalists and activists—to flee due to threats of persecution.
For decades, migration to Pakistan has been a safe refuge for Afghans escaping conflict and oppression in Afghanistan. Despite its economic struggles, Pakistan has facilitated education, health care and work opportunities for many Afghan refugees. Several international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have collaborated with the Pakistani government under the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) to provide legal protection, assistance and voluntary repatriation programs. Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the UNHCR launched the UNHCR-PPAF Empowerment Initiative in 2019. This program aims to support Afghan refugees in Pakistan by improving their livelihoods. Since its inception, the initiative has provided vocational training to more than 11,000 refugees and host community members, supported 900 Afghan refugee families through the Poverty Graduation Programme, and helped 2,000 refugee women develop artisanal skills. However, increasing domestic challenges have led Pakistan to reconsider its long-term refugee policies.
Deportation and Legal Complexities
Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, which means it has no legal obligation to grant asylum under international refugee law. However, the principle of non-refoulement, a core aspect of international humanitarian law, prohibits states from forcibly returning refugees to a country where they face persecution or harm.
The Pakistani government argues that security conditions in Afghanistan have stabilized, and many refugees do not face a “serious or credible” threat upon return. Additionally, Pakistan’s strained economy and security concerns—including the rise in cross-border terrorism—have contributed to harsher policies against undocumented Afghan nationals. This has led to mass deportations, which human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized as inhumane and unlawful.
Challenges That Afghan Refugees are Facing
Afghan refugees in Pakistan struggle with economic hardship, discrimination, and legal uncertainty. Many lack official documentation, making it difficult to access formal employment, education and health care. Women and children, in particular, face higher risks of exploitation and poverty.
As negative perceptions regarding refugees in Pakistan become more prevalent, fears of unforeseeable arrests and harassment by police are increasing among the Afghan refugees. Various reports suggest that under the threats of deportation, many refugees left for Afghanistan after selling their possessions at low prices, returning to a life of poverty and insecurity. While inadequacy of basic services in Afghanistan persists, forced repatriation in the absence of sustainable reintegration plans further debilitates Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
International Response and the Way Forward
UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations have questioned Pakistan for its forced expulsion of the Afghan refugees. Voluntary repatriation and long-term integration policies have been the key aspects of UNHCR’s proposals, which offers economic and logistical assistance to both refugees and host populations.
Although the international community, inclusive of European Union and the United States, has partaken in the provision of financial assistance to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and adjacent nations, the fundraising effort have been insufficient in meeting the actual funding requirements, restraining the success of the humanitarian efforts. In order to address the dire Afghan refugee situation mindfully, a regional scheme incorporating Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the international stakeholders is needed more than ever.
Conclusion
Even though Pakistan is increasingly challenged by its economic and security issues, tackling the Afghan migration to Pakistan situation humanely and diplomatically remains essential for its stability. Afghan refugees are more than uprooted individuals – they possess the skills and resilience to contribute to both their sponsoring nations and their native land.
With investment in education, labor force and legal channels, the regional and international stakeholders will likely be able to provide enduring solutions that improve the conditions of the refugees and the indigenous communities.
– Syeda Khadija Zafar
Photo: Pixabay
The Ha Giang Loop and its Impact on Poverty Reduction
Many of those fortunate enough to have embarked on the 350 km Ha Giang Loop regard the journey as a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Fortunately, the increased influx of adventurous travellers into Ha Giang is slowly beginning to make a tangible positive impact on the lives of many local people.
The Power of Tourism
Tourism is a valuable asset and conduit which can drive economic development and reduce poverty. Through the multiplier effect, tourism, particularly backpacker tourism, can significantly positively impact the areas they visit. In Vietnam, every job in the tourism sector, generates another 1.5 jobs elsewhere.
Ha Giang province contains some of the poorest districts in the whole of Vietnam. The mountainous topography and often challenging climate of the region provide obstructive barriers to traditional agricultural development. Moreover, the population of Ha Giang consists of more than 20 different ethnic groups, with the largest being the H’mong people known for their distinctive traditional clothing and intricate craftsmanship.
The ethnic groups of Vietnam make up 15% of the total population but account for more than 70% of the extremely poor. There are numerous factors behind this stark inequality including; geographical isolation, societal intricacies such as culture and language and limited access to education. Many ethnic groups have failed to fully benefit from the sweeping positive initiatives and developments enacted across Vietnam over the past two decades.
Positive Developments in Ha Giang
In recent times, the Dong Van province within Ha Giang has made positive development strides through agricultural reforms. To combat the agrarian difficulties inflicted by the terrain and climate, local farmers were encouraged to switch to alternative crops such as rice hybrids and corn. Additionally, many local farmers have now become effective cultivators of honey, as a result of interest-free loans being allocated to prospective beekeepers.
The cultivation of buckwheat has also proved to be profitable, and the annual Dong Van Buckwheat Festival attracts many tourists which provides an additional valuable source of revenue for the locality. Moreover, employment initiatives to support handicrafts and flax weaving enterprises have secured employment prospects for many local women.
These policies have greatly aided the widespread inclusion and involvement of poorer households and erected multiple avenues for potential income and revenue. Consequently, living conditions have greatly improved and poverty rates in the province, which were once as high as 18.5%, have fallen by more than 6%.
Charitable Efforts
The Blue Dragon Foundation helps to empower ethnic minority women in Ha Giang by preventing the exploitation and trafficking of women and providing educational resources. Blue Dragon also assists families by teaching life skills and helping to develop sustainable income sources through the provision of livestock.
Thon Tha is a responsible tourism co-operative that aims to help develop local communities to access a better life, by providing visitors with an authentic and responsible Vietnamese travel experience. Established in 2014, Thon Tha works to reduce poverty by creating long-term sustainable visions for local people. Their work includes; creating job opportunities through services such as homestays and bike rental shops; preserving cultural traditions and discouraging employment activities such as street vendors; and providing authentic travel experiences to showcase true Vietnam.
Problems of Tourism Development
Ha Giang welcomes more than 2 million visitors annually, in turn earning an estimated $200 million from the tourism industry. The province was also named Asia’s leading emerging tourist hotspot in 2023. However, Ha Giang suffers from a distinct lack of proper tourist infrastructure and is currently incapable of fully capitalizing on the proliferation of visitors to the area. However, the government established initiatives such as tax exemptions for homestays, as well as charging small fees for visitors to access particular areas to help bolster the burgeoning of tourism.
Conclusion
The Ha Giang Loop is already having a direct positive impact on the local people, by providing locals with important sources of additional income. As a direct result of the loop, enterprising locals are capitalizing on the newly buoyant tourism industry by establishing homestays and roadside shops.
It is encouraging to see the direct positive impacts arising from the popularity of the loop. However, careful management and nurtured responsibility remain vitally important for the upsurge of tourism in Ha Giang. Thus, ensuring sustainability in the accretion of tourism generated revenue into the region going forward; and in turn the ensuing continued reduction of poverty.
– Ollie Roberts
Photo: Flickr
Innovations in poverty eradication in Barbados
Tourism Effect
The increase in tourists to pre-COVID-19 levels has definitely helped the poverty issue within Barbados as the economy has since grown by 4.5% with the return of tourists to the island post-pandemic. GDP rose 4% just in 2024 in Barbados, and both tourism and manufacturing have seen a 5.5% increase in the traded sector while non-traded sectors went up by 3.7%.
The number of prolonged tourist visits in Barbados increased by 10.7%, and the number of cruise calls increased by 53, causing a 40.8% rise in tourists by cruise, according to the Central Bank of Barbados. These event tactics that focus on tourist booms are critical to the economy and are a huge innovation in poverty eradication in Barbados as their economy relies heavily on tourism, as 50% of export income is attributed to tourism, and is truly a driving point for the economy.
The Role of BERT
Along with tourism, there are multiple ongoing and promising government-led plans, one of the most prominent being the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT). BERT recently received support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) along with the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) as well as an arrangement by the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Help from these facilities if approved by the IMF would mean a total of $56 million between both facilities would be made available to BERT.
BERT is one of the most important innovations in poverty eradication in Barbados as it has been working and reimplemented since 2018 in a mission to restore and support the macroeconomics of the island, by doing structural reforms and shifting towards a more tourism based economy.
BERT has also worked against certain external shock factors such as natural disasters to not disrupt the visitor-based economy it is building. It has started the Stormwater Management Act to combat flood risks, has started to shy away from fossil fuels and is looking at renewable energy sources to prevent economic growth from stunting due to such factors.
The BERT plan was based on the government’s anti-poverty alignment and strives for long-standing and sustainable growth and has so far proven to be beneficial to the island. In combination with new tourism business and tactics, Barbados is on the right track toward economic success. These innovations in poverty eradication in Barbados have benefited Barbados greatly as unemployment rates drop, and domestic business has increased since both the tourist boom and the reimplementation of BERT.
– Cheyenne Weller
Photo: Flickr
How Preventative Education Is Stopping Bird Flu In Cambodia
What is Bird Flu?
Avian Influenza, usually H5N1 in humans, is the virus that causes bird flu. While not very contagious within humans, bird flu is incredibly contagious within poultry. Chickens or other birds will get each other sick and while this normally is not an issue for human health when the illness stays within the animals, problems can arise when people spend extended periods of time around a large volume of infected animals. So far, most of the people who have contracted bird flu have either been farmers who have been tending infected animals or individuals who have consumed infected animals. Transmission can occur via direct contact, indirect contact (such as touching a contaminated surface), or inhaling the disease.
Additionally, Avian Influenza is highly infectious and fatal within poultry, carrying a 75% to 100% mortality rate within poultry. Historically, around half of all people with documented bird flu infections have died. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, confusion, and fever which eventually escalate into multiple organ failure.
Bird Flu in Cambodia
Bird Flu in Cambodia is by no means a new situation. In fact, the first outbreak of Bird Flu in Cambodia was back in 2003. Occasional and infrequent cases of Bird Flu in Cambodia were reported in humans until 2014, at which point no further cases were reported until 2022.
A gradual decrease in the public perception of bird flu’s threat has caused many individuals in Cambodia to grow lax with preventative health measures over the past few years. A study in Prey Veng in 2023 showed that 22.6% of individuals knowingly cooked and fed sick or dead poultry to their families. Additionally, 93% of the country’s poultry production is raised via backyard systems. While efficient, these backyard systems often come with diminished sanitization and a higher risk of disease transmission to humans.
Government Response
Responding to such a dangerous health crisis has been an uphill battle for the Cambodian government. One of the biggest challenges is disseminating information to an extremely rural population. As such, most of the work the Cambodian government has done on sharing information about bird flu in Cambodia has been on foot. Health care and government workers have been driving in on motorbikes to secluded populations to educate them about bird flu in hopes of preventing future cases and spreading awareness. Proactive preventative measures have been implemented as well, such as the treatment and culling of affected poultry, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In recent times, Cambodian officials have worked with national influenza centers to both curb the spread of the disease and raise awareness for bird flu in Cambodia. Cambodian influenza centers offer 24/7 laboratory testing for Cambodia’s population completely free of charge.
This recent pivot to a more preventative strategy has increased early detection, which can help stop the spread of bird flu to humans and increase treatment options within humans.
Moving Forward
While the bird flu in Cambodia situation has the potential to be a catastrophic event for the population, Cambodia’s government has made leaps and bounds in providing education and preventative care to a largely rural population. Through this preventative education and efforts to stop bird flu in Cambodia before it can spread further, Cambodian officials have successfully stopped an epidemic before it could spiral out of control.
– Mac Scott
Photo: Flickr
Natural Disasters and Disease in the Philippines
There is a correlation between natural disasters and disease in the Philippines. With disaster comes destruction and instability. People flee their homes as disasters decimate infrastructure, entire agricultural fields disappear and those from low incomes are unable to access medical care. Similarly, the disasters alone have direct links to negative health effects such as dengue, diarrheal syndrome, measles, cholera, meningococcal disease and acute respiratory syndrome.
Natural disasters cause disease in the Philippines, particularly impacting the lives of low-income people as they are less likely to obtain access to the resources necessary to rebuild their lives after a disaster or treat diseases caused by these events
Disaster, Disease and Poverty
Research has shown that infectious diseases occur following natural disasters as these circumstances hamper the foundations of many citizens’ lives and the health care system is not stable enough to cope with this. A deficit of clean water, stable housing and health care results in poor living conditions and higher rates of communicable disease.
A study on water-related diseases in the Philippines highlights that unless water availability is imperilled and people are displaced, the spread and risk of water-related diseases are low. Comparatively, following flooding, there is a significantly increased risk of such diseases because contaminated water is dominant – meaning that infections such as dermatitis and conjunctivitis are common. Similarly, following flooding, there is a higher risk of faecal-oral diseases such as paratyphoid fever, poliomyelitis and chlorea.
For those living in poverty in the Philippines, disasters such as flooding heighten the risk of communicable diseases, therefore pushing people into extreme poverty as they do not have the resources to treat such diseases. As a result, this worsens their quality of life.
The Work of Planet Water Foundation
Planet Water Foundation focuses on tackling a lack of clean water in the Philippines. Since 2010, the foundation has installed approximately 430 clean water schemes across the Philippines. This scheme involves the implementation of around 360 AquaTower water filter apparatuses in primary schools, ensuring students and staff can access clean drinking water
The foundation has also provided resources to aid communities during and following natural disasters by ensuring they have the resources to stay healthy and prevent disease. Through the placement of AquaBlock Emergency Water Systems following natural disasters such as flooding and cyclones, locals can secure clean water even amidst natural hazards. The Planet Water Foundation’s disaster responses include the Taal Volcanic eruption, Typhoon Odette and Typhoon Goni.
The implementation of systems that ensure there is sanitary water acts as a preventive measure for communicable diseases that arise from contaminated water that manifests from natural disasters. Correspondingly, this addresses the sanitation gap that low-income people and locals experience which helps them maintain basic hygiene even if they lose shelter because of natural disasters.
– Ella Dorman
Photo: Flickr