Barbados, an island part of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group, is currently facing a national crisis of noncommunicable diseases that is constraining the nation’s growth and development. The SIDS group is a collection of 39 states that collectively constitute only about 1% of the world’s population, yet due to their isolated geography and small populations, are uniquely vulnerable to difficulties such as poor health that can severely inhibit their ability to develop sustainably – SIDS have the highest rates of diabetes in the world, as well as mental health issues reaching a rate of 15% and hypertension greater than 30%.
Contributing Factors to Noncommunicable Diseases in Barbados
There are multiple explanations for the presence of unhealthy risk factors that contribute to widespread noncommunicable diseases in Barbados. According to Dr. Kenneth Connell, University of the West Indies, after the industrialization of the Caribbean, the increasingly affluent lifestyle that succeeded was, in fact, more unhealthy, with increased physical inactivity and imported food products. About 23% of adults are obese and 43% are physically inactive, with this rate being doubled in adolescents.
Barbadian diets overwhelmingly consist of ultra-processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt, which are a product of low-quality food imports that are constrained by transaction and import costs, difficulties with supply chain management and remote geography. There is also a postcolonial dimension to noncommunicable disease in Barbados. The sugar plantations that constituted the main body of colonial Barbados’ economy ensured sugar was a pervasive part of diets, and the ‘defective’ parts of pigs, such as the tails, feet and ears, were given to the plantation workers, pickled or cooked with fat and salt and became a traditional Bajan dish, called souse.
Health
As a result of high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, trade limitations, low-quality imports, more convenient lifestyles and the legacy of colonial diets, NCDs account for 83% of all deaths in Barbados, a rate 9% higher than the global average.
Economy
The noncommunicable diseases in Barbados are having considerable repercussions on the livelihood of Barbadians, as well as the economy of the country. Professor Karl Theodore from the University of the West Indies gauges that noncommunicable diseases in Barbados are costing the nation $375 million annually, a sum that constitutes 3% of the GDP. Dr. Sonia Browne, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados, stated that “NCDs make up the largest area of expenditure in the national health care budget,” a significant financial burden upon the state and a “drain on economic activity.”
In June 2023, SIDS countries held a ministerial conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, for members to acknowledge and act against NCDs and mental health issues. A report from the conference stated that “the enormous problems of the millions of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions … represent an existential threat to human development in the 21st century.”
The conference also outlined how “high levels of NCDs and mental health conditions reduce the quantity and quality of human capital in SIDS with a negative effect on their capacity to generate wealth.” Increased climate change is exacerbating this issue, forcing SID countries into untenable debt levels. On an individual level, cases of noncommunicable diseases in Barbados can curtail household income, which initiates a negative feedback loop called the ‘health-poverty trap.’ The self-fulfilling cycle means it is often difficult for individuals to find ways out of the cycle of poverty, leading to generational patterns.
Solutions
The 2023 Bridgetown Conference outlined the goal to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030, acknowledging that these deaths are predominantly avertable through increased investment in health care systems and better public policy. The SIDS are therefore undertaking a comprehensive range of actions to reach this goal, including engagement with Heads of State and local community groups, coordinating with the UN, increasing domestic investment in health care, regulating risk factors such as tobacco/alcohol use, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, as well as the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and updating food policies to advocate for healthy diets.
Organizations such as the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) are also working to reduce NCDs in the small island states. Composed of more than 100 civil society organizations, the HCC works with civil, society and national and regional leaders to implement programs to reduce sickness and mortality due to NCDs. They are engaged in a broad range of campaigns, such as the ‘Now More Than Ever: Better Labels, Better Choices, Better Health’ campaign to bring to public consciousness the danger of childhood obesity and NCDs, as well as advocating for access to more nutritional food and garnering support for warning labels on packaging for food high in fats, salt and sugar. This campaign ran repeatedly in 2021, collecting more than 22 million social media impressions, 7 million impressions from programming advertisements and 3 million listeners to radio PSAs. It will run again in 2023.
Conclusion
Widespread deaths and illnesses due to NCDs and mental health issues are preventing SIDS, such as Barbados, from developing sustainably. The creation of health-poverty traps and losses of human capital and productivity are depleting the national workforce and straining economic growth. However, with widespread political and NGO advocacy committed to engaging the public and policymakers in preventative measures, Barbados and other SIDS are on track to transform the nation’s health and recoup their economic losses.
– Eleanor Moseley
Photo: Flickr
How WEConnect International Supports Women Entrepreneurs
Women entrepreneurs face numerous challenges worldwide, ranging from gender-based discrimination and limited access to financial resources to cultural biases and societal expectations. WEConnect International supports women entrepreneurs to overcome challenges by fostering business growth and empowering women-owned businesses in the global market.
What is WEConnect International?
WEConnect International is a global nonprofit organization that focuses on empowering and supporting women-owned businesses to succeed in the global market. The organization’s priority is to connect women entrepreneurs with corporate buyers and assist them in gaining access to new business prospects, networks and training.
WEConnect International operates in 134 countries around the world, with a particular focus on supporting women-owned businesses in emerging markets and developing countries.
Although women represent half of the world’s population, they face systemic discrimination in the job market. Women entrepreneurs have a harder time than men getting the resources, credit, knowledge, technology and networks they need to succeed in the workplace.
WEConnect International’s Initiatives and Programs
WEConnect International supports women entrepreneurs through several key initiatives. Firstly, the organization offers a certification program for women-owned businesses. This certification assists businesses in gaining recognition and credibility, particularly when bidding for contracts with firms and organizations that encourage inclusion and diversity in their supplier chains.
WEConnect also provides workshops and capacity-building initiatives to assist women entrepreneurs in advancing their business expertise and knowledge.
For instance, through a partnership with the Moody’s Foundation, the organization offers free expert-level training programs providing women-owned businesses with expertise and financial skills.
Additionally, a central aspect of the organization is to provide networking opportunities and market access to women-owned businesses. Women entrepreneurs have a platform to connect with possible partners and customers through WEConnect International. To foster links between firms wishing to diversify their suppliers and women-owned businesses, the organization organizes events, conferences and matchmaking sessions.
Finally, WEConnect International supports women entrepreneurs by advocating for policies and practices that support women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in business. It also conducts research to identify barriers and opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Success Story of Dian Kurniawati and Her Company Tridi Oasis
Dian Kurniawati established Tridi Oasis to recycle plastic bottles and create income opportunities for local families. Her business rapidly grew and expanded its processing capacity after strategic partnerships. Dian’s quest for growth led her to WEConnect International, where she participated in the P&G Women Academy Training. Through WEConnect International, Tridi Oasis became a proud grant recipient from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, which considerably helped the company grow further.
Tridi Oasis is still committed to its goal of recycling as much disposable plastic as it can and is now able to increase its positive impact and promote a sustainable future with the support of WEConnect International’s assistance.
Importance of Women’s Economic Empowerment
There is significant research on the importance of women’s economic empowerment and the advantages of working with women-owned firms. Women’s economic empowerment promotes gender equality and helps break down traditional gender roles, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society where women have the same opportunities as men to participate in economic activities and decision-making processes.
Additionally, women represent a substantial portion of the global population, and their participation in the workforce can drive economic growth. Women are not only powerful consumers but also influential decision-makers. Businesses that collaborate with women-owned enterprises can access new market niches and better comprehend and serve the needs of female consumers.
According to a report by Booz & Company, women worldwide make up the “third billion” in emerging countries, following China and India’s first and second billion populations. It states, for instance, that the overall GDP would increase by 5% if female employment rates in the United States were to match male employment rates.
Through its range of programs and initiatives, WEConnect International supports women entrepreneurs and plays a pivotal role in empowering them to overcome challenges and thrive in the global market. As women entrepreneurs continue to make significant contributions to the global economy, WEConnect International remains a driving force in supporting their success, amplifying their voices and advocating for a more equitable future.
– Hannah Klifa
Photo: Flickr
How Different US States Are Fighting Global Poverty
California: Tech-Driven Philanthropy
California, a hub of technological innovation, has seen numerous tech giants and startups redirect their expertise toward alleviating global poverty. Companies like Google, through its Google.org initiative, are investing in projects that provide technology and education to underserved communities worldwide. By committing $50 billion to education efforts or the same amount to economic development, Google initiatives like expanding internet access in remote areas and using data analytics to identify poverty patterns are working to help the developing world.
For example, this initiative will support the creation of new educational jobs in India, a country that will need more teachers and professors with such a rapidly growing population. Furthermore, it will help children in countries like Brazil receive access to further schooling, even in the case of natural disasters.
New York: Diplomatic and NGO Nexus
New York’s international prominence makes it a key player in the fight against global poverty. The state hosts the United Nations headquarters and numerous international NGOs. The city’s diplomats, policy experts and advocates work collaboratively on strategies for poverty reduction, pushing for sustainable development goals and advocating for increased aid to impoverished regions. Furthermore, the McSilver Institute of NYU researches and develops tangible ways to fight global poverty.
Texas: Disaster Relief and Training
Texas has established itself as a hub for disaster relief and emergency response training. Organizations based in Texas, such as the American Red Cross and various disaster relief teams, not only assist domestically but also extend their reach to impoverished areas globally during times of crisis. Their expertise in logistics, health care and infrastructure development becomes invaluable in assisting vulnerable populations abroad.
Almost every developing nation has received aid from the Red Cross; recent examples include Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, given their ongoing political crises.
Massachusetts: Educational Partnerships
With its renowned universities and research institutions, Massachusetts takes a unique approach to fighting global poverty through education. Collaborations between universities like Harvard, MIT and local NGOs have led to programs that educate and empower individuals in developing countries. These initiatives range from vocational training to entrepreneurship programs, equipping people with skills to lift themselves out of poverty.
Washington: Trade for Development
The state of Washington, with its strong emphasis on international trade, actively promotes fair trade practices to uplift impoverished communities. By partnering with less-developed nations like India and Vietnam to establish sustainable trade relationships, the state fosters economic growth and job creation in those regions. Additionally, Washington-based companies often engage in responsible sourcing, supporting products that are ethically produced and benefit communities in need.
Illinois: Refugee Support and Resettlement
Illinois has embraced a role in alleviating global poverty by providing refuge and support to those fleeing conflict and poverty-stricken regions. The state’s welcoming stance toward refugees includes comprehensive resettlement programs that offer language training, job placement assistance and access to social services. By providing a stable foundation, Illinois helps refugees rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their new communities.
As of August, refugees are mostly coming from Burma, Syria, Afghanistan and the Congo.
Georgia: Agricultural Expertise Sharing
Georgia’s agricultural industry is playing a pivotal role in the fight against global poverty. Agricultural universities and research centers in the state collaborate with international partners to share expertise on sustainable farming practices, crop diversification and food security. By equipping farmers in developing countries with knowledge and tools, Georgia contributes to increased agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods.
Minnesota: Health Interventions
Minnesota’s robust health care sector has extended its reach to combat global poverty through medical missions and partnerships. Health professionals from the state volunteer their skills in impoverished areas, providing much-needed medical care, training local health care workers and supporting health infrastructure development. These efforts play a crucial role in addressing preventable diseases and promoting overall well-being.
Fighting Global Poverty
In an interconnected world, the contributions of these states underscore the collective effort of the United States to address global poverty. Each state’s unique strengths and resources enrich the global fight against poverty, demonstrating that progress knows no boundaries when it comes to creating a more equitable and prosperous world.
– Sahib Singh
Photo: Unsplash
3 Solutions for Ending Poverty in Somalia
Internally Displaced Persons Camps
Many children are forced to live in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps, where poverty in Somalia is the most extreme. Nearly 80% of children in these areas are forced to live deprived of at least one necessary resource, such as education, sanitation or water. According to UNICEF, “water and sanitation conditions can also have a deep impact on health and productivity, and thus in income generation opportunities and future poverty status.” In these camps, less than half of the children can’t even drink water from pipes and must rely on finding other sources of water, which they are unlikely to treat before consuming.
Shelter is also an issue in IDP camps, where half of the population lives with tin roofs, wood or dirt floors and walls made of plastic sheets. Multidimensional poverty in Somalia affects nearly 90% of these citizens, where the extreme need for education and access to water, sanitation and electricity hinders growth or progress.
This area is also highly susceptible to natural disasters, including droughts, which decimate crops, livestock and water sources. People must leave their homes in search of lifesaving resources but are being pushed into famine by the widespread food scarcity. Droughts between 2015 and 2017 left 20% of the population vulnerable to food insecurity. According to a 2019 Somalia Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment, the poverty level hovered at 69% and 74% in areas of displaced citizens.
Improvements
Solutions toward ending poverty in Somalia exist and are being implemented by the Somalian government. The first solution is reallocating resource budgets to increase health and education funding. With support from UNICEF, the government is putting social protection systems in place to address inaccessibility. Social sectors that benefit children received 8% of Somalia’s budget in 2019 and increased the education budget from 2 to 5%. They also doubled the health budget from 1 to 2%. While this is far below the national average, UNICEF and international finance institutions are working to increase Somalia’s ability to spend money on these essential social sectors that provide a necessary future for its citizens.
Another solution is the Social Protection Program, which was enacted in 2019. According to the World Bank, “social protection can address poverty and inequality across the country by providing poor and vulnerable households with support and access to socioeconomic opportunities.” Putting in place national social safety nets provides critical assistance to those who need it most. This Social Protection Program spurned a government-led safety net called Baxnaano, which allows the government to protect human capital and support fulfilling basic needs. Two-hundred thousand poor households, about 1.2 million people, have benefitted from nutrient-linked cash transfers, which allow them to supplement their diets with foods that have not been affected by extreme climate conditions.
Finally, the “Education Cannot Wait” program is a crucial solution to helping Somalia escape the cycle of poverty. This program sees quality education for children and adults as the key to improving life for future generations. Almost half of the children in Somalia do not attend school due to having to help work at home, lack of teachers, illnesses and general lack of resources. With this program, however, families are given school supplies in addition to supplementary foods and safe drinking water. Partners in this program also provide incentives for teachers to give children a more significant opportunity for enrollment and rehabilitate classrooms. Eighteen thousand children have had access to education since 2019.
Looking Forward
Education is one key opportunity for enhancing accessibility to other necessary resources, but it is not the only way poverty in Somalia can be lessened. Assistance from organizations like UNICEF is helping Somalia take charge of the cycle of poverty by allowing citizens to receive essential, lifesaving resources as simple as clean water to help elevate them and educate them about how to better their futures. Future generations do not have to be swept up in this cycle as long as people are being educated and passing the information along to their children, as they control the future of their country.
– Jennifer Arias
Photo: Unsplash
Noncommunicable Diseases in Barbados
Barbados, an island part of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group, is currently facing a national crisis of noncommunicable diseases that is constraining the nation’s growth and development. The SIDS group is a collection of 39 states that collectively constitute only about 1% of the world’s population, yet due to their isolated geography and small populations, are uniquely vulnerable to difficulties such as poor health that can severely inhibit their ability to develop sustainably – SIDS have the highest rates of diabetes in the world, as well as mental health issues reaching a rate of 15% and hypertension greater than 30%.
Contributing Factors to Noncommunicable Diseases in Barbados
There are multiple explanations for the presence of unhealthy risk factors that contribute to widespread noncommunicable diseases in Barbados. According to Dr. Kenneth Connell, University of the West Indies, after the industrialization of the Caribbean, the increasingly affluent lifestyle that succeeded was, in fact, more unhealthy, with increased physical inactivity and imported food products. About 23% of adults are obese and 43% are physically inactive, with this rate being doubled in adolescents.
Barbadian diets overwhelmingly consist of ultra-processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt, which are a product of low-quality food imports that are constrained by transaction and import costs, difficulties with supply chain management and remote geography. There is also a postcolonial dimension to noncommunicable disease in Barbados. The sugar plantations that constituted the main body of colonial Barbados’ economy ensured sugar was a pervasive part of diets, and the ‘defective’ parts of pigs, such as the tails, feet and ears, were given to the plantation workers, pickled or cooked with fat and salt and became a traditional Bajan dish, called souse.
Health
As a result of high alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, trade limitations, low-quality imports, more convenient lifestyles and the legacy of colonial diets, NCDs account for 83% of all deaths in Barbados, a rate 9% higher than the global average.
Economy
The noncommunicable diseases in Barbados are having considerable repercussions on the livelihood of Barbadians, as well as the economy of the country. Professor Karl Theodore from the University of the West Indies gauges that noncommunicable diseases in Barbados are costing the nation $375 million annually, a sum that constitutes 3% of the GDP. Dr. Sonia Browne, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados, stated that “NCDs make up the largest area of expenditure in the national health care budget,” a significant financial burden upon the state and a “drain on economic activity.”
In June 2023, SIDS countries held a ministerial conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, for members to acknowledge and act against NCDs and mental health issues. A report from the conference stated that “the enormous problems of the millions of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions … represent an existential threat to human development in the 21st century.”
The conference also outlined how “high levels of NCDs and mental health conditions reduce the quantity and quality of human capital in SIDS with a negative effect on their capacity to generate wealth.” Increased climate change is exacerbating this issue, forcing SID countries into untenable debt levels. On an individual level, cases of noncommunicable diseases in Barbados can curtail household income, which initiates a negative feedback loop called the ‘health-poverty trap.’ The self-fulfilling cycle means it is often difficult for individuals to find ways out of the cycle of poverty, leading to generational patterns.
Solutions
The 2023 Bridgetown Conference outlined the goal to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030, acknowledging that these deaths are predominantly avertable through increased investment in health care systems and better public policy. The SIDS are therefore undertaking a comprehensive range of actions to reach this goal, including engagement with Heads of State and local community groups, coordinating with the UN, increasing domestic investment in health care, regulating risk factors such as tobacco/alcohol use, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, as well as the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and updating food policies to advocate for healthy diets.
Organizations such as the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) are also working to reduce NCDs in the small island states. Composed of more than 100 civil society organizations, the HCC works with civil, society and national and regional leaders to implement programs to reduce sickness and mortality due to NCDs. They are engaged in a broad range of campaigns, such as the ‘Now More Than Ever: Better Labels, Better Choices, Better Health’ campaign to bring to public consciousness the danger of childhood obesity and NCDs, as well as advocating for access to more nutritional food and garnering support for warning labels on packaging for food high in fats, salt and sugar. This campaign ran repeatedly in 2021, collecting more than 22 million social media impressions, 7 million impressions from programming advertisements and 3 million listeners to radio PSAs. It will run again in 2023.
Conclusion
Widespread deaths and illnesses due to NCDs and mental health issues are preventing SIDS, such as Barbados, from developing sustainably. The creation of health-poverty traps and losses of human capital and productivity are depleting the national workforce and straining economic growth. However, with widespread political and NGO advocacy committed to engaging the public and policymakers in preventative measures, Barbados and other SIDS are on track to transform the nation’s health and recoup their economic losses.
– Eleanor Moseley
Photo: Flickr
How The Olympic Refuge Foundation is Helping Refugees
With a growing number of people across the world who are forced to leave their livelihoods and start a new life somewhere else, projects that increase confidence and well-being are a key part of minimizing the chances of poverty among refugees. The Olympic Refuge Foundation is using sport to encourage communication and teamwork, provide a regular routine and increase the self-confidence of refugees.
4 Facts About Refugees
World Refugee Day, celebrated each year on June 20, aims to highlight the strength and courage of people who have had to flee their home country. In 2023, the main theme focused on hope, which is no better embodied than by the athletes dreaming big on the Olympic Refugee Team.
The Olympic Refuge Foundation
Since the 1990s, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been developing sports programs in the camps and settlements refugees often find themselves in. People from many different countries, who speak multiple languages, have been able to unite through sport and find joy in a simple game of basketball.
Since then, the sports projects have developed beyond the walls of the camps. In March 2016, the IOC announced the creation of the Olympic Refugee Team, and that summer at the Rio Olympics, 10 athletes were selected to represent the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team.
At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, 29 refugee athletes competed across 12 different sports. The increase in top-level athletes also reflects the expansion of sports programs around the world that are working to help refugees. In December 2017, the IOC created the Olympic Refuge Foundation with the aim of providing consistent support not only to high-level refugee athletes but to refugees across the world. The foundation now supports 12 programs in eight countries: Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, Turkey and Uganda and is looking to extend the project to Colombia and France.
The sports projects in refugee camps provide safe and inclusive spaces for young people escaping violence, abuse, negligence and exploitation. Young people of different nationalities are able to communicate with each other through the common language of sport, making valuable friendships and building trust and confidence in themselves. The day-to-day activities contribute to the social cohesion and development of people who have been scarred by their past. Fighting the feeling of hopelessness and desolation — so common in camps — is key to their future growth and recovery.
Terrains D’avenir
The IOC and Olympic Refuge Foundation are also keen to use the upcoming Olympics in Paris as a tool to encourage sport in local communities in France. With the support of the French Ministry of Sports and multiple other partners, a program – Terrains d’Avenir – has emerged to provide 7,000 young people who are displaced with access to sports by 2025. The program, which launched in June 2023, aims to support refugees in recovering from their experiences of trauma and to involve them in French society through sport.
The project is open to any displaced young person, regardless of their administrative status or ability to speak French and will offer organized activities across a variety of sports. Starting a new life somewhere is never easy; learning a new language, adapting to new customs, finding a new job and integrating yourself into the local community take time and patience. However, if these steps can be achieved, the chances of poverty among refugees are far less likely.
– Almaz Nerurkar
Photo: Flickr
Storm Daniel: Reducing Waterborne Diseases in Libya
On September 10, 2023, Storm Daniel hit Libya, where torrential rainfall generated massive floods and the breach of two dams located in the south of Derna leading to the destruction of entire neighborhoods. The devastating flooding has so far killed more than 4,000 people and displaced more than 42,000, with a further 8,500 missing. Between 30,000 and 35,000 of these displaced individuals are currently residing in overcrowded camps in the Derna governorate, with little access to clean water and sanitation. Derna is amongst the worst affected districts for lack of open and safe health care facilities due to damage that the floods caused.
The Threat of Waterborne Diseases
The majority of the health risks for survivors stem from the presence of contaminated water, limited access to clean water and poor hygiene and sanitation facilities. These risks include the threat of waterborne disease outbreaks such as acute watery diarrhea and cholera. Additionally, the challenges of disrupted health care services, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, women and patients with chronic diseases or conditions, have heightened these risks. The Libyan National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 238 cases of diarrhea from September 14 to 18 alone.
The World Health Organization (WHO)
To detect early waterborne disease outbreaks and allow for the conduction of immediate control measures, the NCDC is leading surveillance efforts with support from the WHO including active surveillance in hospitals, health facilities and shelters for displaced people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed 78 health facilities, 24 of which are hospitals and 54 of which are primary health care facilities. More than half are either closed or not functioning due to damaged infrastructure or shortages of staff, medical supplies and equipment.
Alongside the Libyan Ministry of Health (MoH), the WHO is working to restore functionality in 10 health care facilities. Due to the 30,000 to 35,000 individuals residing in camps in Derna, a 100-bed field hospital with 10 intensive care beds, radiology services and an obstetrics and gynecology department has emerged with intentions to establish a further six field hospitals across the affected areas of Libya.
Due to damage causing the only rural hospital in the village of Al-Bayada to close, the WHO has deployed a mobile clinic in the nearby city of Assahel city in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar. Additionally, the WHO has not provided chronic disease medicines to primary health care centers in AlBayda, AlMarj, Derna, Shahat and Sousa.
UNICEF
Since Storm Daniel, UNICEF has supported 14 primary health care facilities and three secondary health facilities with essential health supplies sufficient to meet the essential health needs of 91,750 people for three months.
In collaboration with the NCDC, UNICEF launched the Safe Water: Healthy Lives awareness campaign. This campaign targets the most affected locations in eastern Libya and focuses on preventing waterborne diseases, promoting safe hygiene practices and prioritizing the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children. The campaign has reached nearly 12,000 people with crucial messages.
In addition to waterborne disease threats, mental health issues such as acute mental distress, anxiety and depression are at increased risk, especially for those who have lost loved ones, homes, jobs and livelihoods. UNICEF has provided psychosocial support to more than 530 children and 81 parents and trained 62 partners’ staff in psychosocial first aid.
The EU has provided Libya with €5.7 million in humanitarian funding, channeled through ground-operated humanitarian partners delivering lifesaving health, water and sanitation supplies to vulnerable people most affected by Storm Daniel and the floods. Substantial civil protection assistance that EU Member States have offered and coordinated via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has complemented the EU’s humanitarian funding that is tackling disaster needs. It includes the medical teams, equipment, shelter and food that those displaced by the floods need, especially those who might be suffering from waterborne diseases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the devastating flooding that the torrential rain of Storm Daniel in Libya caused has displaced, injured and killed many individuals. However, many organizations are addressing the threat of waterborne diseases due to contaminated water and lack of clean water and sanitation facilities with the united aim to prevent, treat and cure the individuals whom the challenges have affected.
– Charlotte Campion
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
The WFP Provides Aid After Drought in the Horn of Africa
The recent drought in the Horn of Africa was the area’s longest drought in history (2020–2023). Excessive rain and flash flooding followed it, and the conflict in Sudan is making recovery more difficult. Organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) are working in these regions to provide aid, but are struggling to keep up with the need due to lack of funding.
At the end of 2022, the WFP was providing food for more than 4.7 million Somalis, but low funding forced the organization to cut back to feeding only 3 million people in April 2023. A lack of funds will cause this number to decrease even further.
“Without sustainable funding for both emergency and climate-adaptation solutions, the next climate crisis could bring the region to the brink of famine,” said WFP’s regional director for Eastern Africa, Michael Dunford.
The Longest Drought in History
Generally, the Horn of Africa experiences two rainy seasons: Oct.–Dec. and March–May, but the region has had five consecutive dry seasons from 2020 to 2023. This has been the longest and most severe recorded drought in the area’s history. This has left residents of the area food insecure. In fact, more than 21 million people are dealing with food insecurity, and more than 3 million of those people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity. This means they regularly go without food for a day or more at a time.
WFP reporter, Tomson Phiri, met a bright 14-year-old boy whose family the drought has impacted. Ali (not the boy’s real name) graduated from primary school, but can no longer progress to secondary school. His family lost an entire herd of livestock and has nothing left to sell in order to fund Ali’s education. More than 13 million livestock died during the drought in the Horn of Africa.
In 2022, the WFP was calling for $327 million to keep up with the level of starving individuals. Now, $810 million is essential to provide the correct amount of support.
Rain and Flash Floods
Beginning in March 2023, the region got its first taste of moisture in three years as heavy rains and flash floods hit. Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya were receiving significantly more rain than they normally would during that time of the year. Although, March–May generally provides the Horn of Africa with 60% of its total annual rainfall. For example, Ethiopia received between 2 and 4 inches more rain within the first 25 days of March than it normally would. Despite providing the area with much-needed water, the floods killed dozens and negatively affected 300,000 people in both Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Maluak family living in South Sudan lost their grass-thatched house during flooding. “The floods started when we had cultivated some vegetables and swept everything away,” said Gabriel Maluak to a Medium reporter. “Our grass-thatched house was floating in water; we had no place to put our heads.”
Maluak and his family had no option except to live in an internally displaced persons camp in Sudan.
Conflict in Sudan
Current conflicts in Sudan are causing food and energy prices to skyrocket throughout the entire region — thus, further perpetuating the food crisis that the drought caused in the Horn of Africa.
The WFP has provided assistance to four Sudanese states — more than 384,000 people. However, the conflict has caused major security concerns for the organization. Three employees of the WFP and four staff from a partner organization died in the fighting, and this forced the WFP to briefly halt their operations in Sudan.
Drought, flash floods and conflict are plaguing the Horn of Africa, causing millions to face serious food insecurity. Though the WFP has aided millions so far, their financial standing is not allowing them to keep up with the need. In the last year, the funding that the organization is calling for has more than doubled.
Help from organizations such as the WFP provides hope for famine prevention and change within the region.
– Taylor Barbadora
Photo: Flickr
Poverty Reduction in the Philippines
In a world where news too often reports problems rather than progress, it is essential always to have news that highlights the progress and accomplishments made to fix the problems. One piece of good news is the efforts and accomplishments aimed at poverty reduction in the Philippines. The Philippines has been making steady progress and gains towards poverty reduction as the country works towards its goal of eliminating poverty in the middle class entirely by 2040.
What Has the Philippines Accomplished?
The World Bank released a report on November 24, 2022, entitled “Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in the Philippines: Past, Present, and Prospects for the Future.” In this report, the World Bank highlighted how the Philippines have been making critical gains in their fight towards poverty reduction. One can attribute these gains to both high growth rates and the expansion of jobs primarily outside agriculture. According to the numbers, from 1985 to 2018, the poverty rate fell from 49.2% to 16.7%.
Additionally, the population of the middle class had ballooned to 12 million people, and the amount of the population that had become economically secure had reached 44 million people. The report highlighted more accomplishments as well, including “the expansion of secondary education, mobility towards better-paying jobs, access to basic services and government social assistance have started to reduce inequality since the mid-2000s.”
Anti-Poverty Programs in the Philippines
The government of the Philippines has introduced anti-poverty programs, which, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), have benefited around 4.7 million Filipinos. According to DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., there are more than 1,000 projects that benefit more than 1.69 million Filipinos and have received funding from the Conditional Matching Grant for Provinces and Financial Assistance to local government units (LGUs). The president of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has made it his priority to achieve poverty reduction in the Philippines significantly.
Recently, the Philippines has completed more than 2,778 farm-to-market roads, water and sanitation systems, health stations, school buildings, rural electrification and other infrastructure projects. These are specifically designed to benefit people who are both geographically isolated and disadvantaged under what is known as the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP). The current Filipino government has embraced poverty reduction initiatives, and the DILG chief reiterated a vow to fully support the current administration’s plans to “…improve the economy, increase employment, improve the ease of doing business, boost agricultural production, ensure food security, and continue social programs for the poor and the vulnerable.”
What Still Needs Improvement?
Despite the progress, more work is necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned back progress in several areas across the globe, especially in the Philippines. Between 2018 and 2021, about 2.3 million people were pushed into poverty, according to the Filipino government. This increase is due to the economic downturn that COVID-19 has caused. In 2021, the number of people living in poverty rose to almost 20 million, which is a little more than 18% of the population. That is up from 16.7% in 2018.
The current President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to tackle this problem to reduce the poverty rate in the Philippines by nine percentage points by the end of his term in 2028. This goal remains achievable even though the country is wrestling with soaring inflation. The president’s focus is on three specific aims: “fully reopening the economy, investing in human capital and social protection and transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products.”
Before the pandemic, the Philippines had succeeded in its goal of pulling 6 million Filipinos out of poverty four years ahead of the original target date of 2022. The pandemic has had negative and long-lasting impacts that the world must work to overcome.
Conclusion
Great strides have been made to reduce poverty in the Philippines. There is a growing middle class, a long-term decrease from 1985 in the poverty rate and more people have started to achieve economic security. All of this, in addition to the expansion of secondary education and a reduction in income inequality due to government social assistance, has created good news for the fight against poverty.
The pandemic had a tremendous impact around the globe and has hurt essential progress worldwide in education and poverty. This is also true in the Philippines, which had made tremendous social and economic progress prior to the pandemic. Fortunately, the Philippines’ president is committed to slashing poverty by the end of his term and has set clear goals toward that end. With this mentality and attention to the problem, expect more good news in the fight to reduce poverty in the Philippines.
– Gary Williams
Photo: Flickr
Addressing Poverty Among the Honduran Garifuna
The Honduran Garifuna are an Indigenous group and descendants of the African Caribs, an Indigenous community from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. In the 18th century, they were exiled from the Central American region and dispersed along the coast and rural areas. Due to miscounts and failure of recognition by the Honduran government, there is no Honduran Garifuna census, but according to the UN’s most recent findings (2021), the population is at about 300,000.
Of the 6.5% African and Indigenous population in the nation of Honduras, 71% are Indigenous and living in extreme poverty. The Garifuna primarily comprise that statistic – along with the other Indigenous groups – which ultimately concludes that they face a high discrepancy in inequality and income in the nation. Here are a myriad of detrimental factors contributing to the poverty among the Honduran Garifuna.
Inadequate Infrastructure
With poor housing comes a deficit in electricity, running water and sanitation services. At Honduras’ national level, about 73% have access to an adequate home, yet this access is unavailable to 30% of their counterparts — those residing in rural areas. More than 40% of the rural population depends on rivers or wells for water, and the Honduran Garifuna account for 17% of them. The Garifuna account for 18% out of 50% that have little to no access to an installed sanitation facility — this includes an outhouse, toilet, potable water and sewer system.
Lack of Basic Needs
Studies find that the illiteracy and malnutrition rates among Honduras’ Indigenous, rural population are at an all-time high and found little to no access to the basic needs for education and food. More than 40% of rural people are not enrolled in grade school resulting in a 46% illiteracy rate because they are geographically isolated.
Isolation/Exclusion
The Honduran Garifuna are isolated and excluded across the spectrum — geographically, economically, socially and politically. Additionally, others do not recognize them as a people in the country. This perpetuates disputes between them and the Honduran government over human and land rights. Even the urban Garifuna that are economically active in the tourism industry regularly experience discrimination and human rights violations. They, and their rural counterparts, face challenges within their own lands over decision-making processes and injustices that further sustain the poverty found among the Honduran Garifuna.
Two grassroots NGOs working with and representing the Honduran Garifuna in legal cases today are the Black Fraternal Organization of Honduras (OFRANEH) and the Ethnic Community Development Organization (ODECO). Both OFRANEH and ODECO have similar goals and visions when working with the Garifuna community. They both prioritize the Garifuna culture and language to educate them about their designated human and land rights and apply them to protect themselves.
The Honduran Garifuna community still stands in solidarity today and holistically tackles the structural challenges of poverty, discrimination and marginalization. It has faced these obstacles by prioritizing its Indigenous culture and traditions and will continue to do so until reconciled.
The Garifuna community is matrifocal. Women are the head of the household and take the leadership roles. Here is a group of Honduran Garifuna women launching a Land Recovery Campaign to fight for their ancestral territories.
– Amy Contreras
Photo: Flickr
How Aid is Improving Life in Informal Settlements in Morocco
At the beginning of the 21st century, nearly 2.5 million Moroccan citizens, close to 10% of the total population, did not have access to water within their homes. Most had to walk to a well to replenish water supplies and were less able to focus on caring for their families or generating income, fostering a distressing quality of life.
Due to these conditions, many Moroccans immigrated from rural areas to cities, and these new populations formed settlements on the edges of urban areas. The state, however, considered these informal settlements in Morocco illegitimate and, as such, decreed them ineligible for essential services like clean water and sanitation. Output-based Aid (OBA) stepped in to remedy the situation and has been instrumental in improving access to fundamental rights in Morocco.
The Success of a Combination of State Assistance and Output-Based Aid
The state developed affordable housing programs, yet the housing created by these programs was still too expensive for some of the inhabitants of the settlements. Programs to improve the quality of life in the informal settlements in Morocco were established as attempts to eradicate the settlements proved unsuccessful. The Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) delegated a grant to the local governments of Casablanca and Tangiers, the cities that this phenomenon most affects. The grant helped contract different water provider companies to construct the necessary infrastructure to service the settlements.
The Construction of Infrastructure
By eliminating the high fee to connect to a piped network, the OBA grant helped bridge the gap between what the households could afford and how much the water services cost, as they only had to pay the service fee. In 2007, a company called LYDEC constructed the necessary infrastructure for water distribution and waste management in Lamkensa, a settlement on the edge of Casablanca.
The OBA grant also enabled another service provider, Amendis, to provide affordable access to water to those living in the settlements bordering Tangiers. The city of Meknès benefited from the aid program as well. Outside foreign aid was once again used to contract a service provider called RADEM that successfully provided water and waste management services to the city.
The Positive Impact of the Partnership Between Local Government and International Aid
The Department for International Development and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank mainly financed these OBA programs in Morocco. The OBA method improved the conditions of those living in Moroccan informal settlements. More than 62,000 residents benefitted from the aid project by its completion in 2012. Not being preoccupied with finding clean water opened up opportunities for residents to devote their attention to other activities such as employment, caring for their families and giving back to their communities.
The Growing Probability of Extreme Weather Events
The Moroccan government’s progressive recognition of the existence of informal settlements in Morocco has improved the efforts to create the necessary infrastructure to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, and there have been more efforts to rehouse these populations through affordable housing programs. In 2019, however, approximately 1.4 million individuals remained in informal settlements in poor urban and peri-urban areas, some without access to essential services.
Additionally, droughts have been more frequent, resulting in limited water resources, an issue that could not be solved with the creation of infrastructure. In 2015 and 2016, rainfall was far lower than the norm and quasi-nonexistent in some regions of Morocco, resulting in scarce water resources. Some cities, such as Zagora, did not have water for days or only a few minutes daily. Predictions seem to indicate that this circumstance will only occur more frequently as the probability of extreme weather events increases. However, the success of the partnership between local government and international institutions shows the real impact this type of initiative can have on human rights in Morocco and elsewhere.
– Tatiana Gnuva
Photo: Flickr