The fragility and the rule of law in Rwanda have recently become topics of discussion. This follows a ruling by the U.K. Court of Appeal, which deemed Rwanda unsafe for U.K.-bound refugees. Additionally, there’s been talk about recent violence in the DRC, with some sources suggesting that Rwanda’s current president, Paul Kagame, has supported it. Several factors contribute to Rwanda’s fragility, ranging from a lack of government transparency to the lasting effects of civil war.
A Brief Overview
Rwanda has a significant history of poverty and instability, attributed to various factors, from geography to politics. Approximately 38% of Rwandans currently live below the poverty line, defined by the U.N. as living on less than $2.15 a day. This means many struggle to maintain even a basic standard of living, exacerbating the fragility of Rwanda’s rule of law.
Fragility in Rwanda
Between 1990 and 1994, civil war overcame Rwanda, resulting in fragility and weakly upheld rule of law throughout the nation. A rift between the two major ethnic groups present in Rwanda at the time, the Hutus and the Tutsis was the pretext behind the civil war. The genocide had a lasting effect on Rwanda, decimating families and resulting in more than 800,000 civilian casualties.
Although the presence of fragility and unstable rule of law in Rwanda has diminished, it remains a complex factor affecting the country’s development. Despite efforts to rebuild and foster development, Rwanda still grapples with the legacy of its tragic history. Conflict traps such as these have been shown to have a catastrophic effect on the future development of any nation. The result is slow and unstable development, making it all the more challenging to establish security throughout the nation.
Democracy and Rule of Law
Government corruption also contributes to fragility in Rwanda. While Rwanda’s government structures have improved over time, its democracy and criminal justice system still face challenges. The current ruling party of Rwanda is the RPF, also known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front. There are basic barriers to fair democracy present, such as high administrative requirements for RPF opposition parties, as well as instances of imprisonment for opposing party members.
In the past, individuals labeled as ‘opponents of the government,‘ including bloggers and journalists reporting on political issues, have faced arrest and illegitimate trials. This raises questions about the stability of democracy and the preservation of political freedom of speech.
Previous allegations of corruption have also raised concerns about the integrity of Rwanda’s criminal justice system. Reports from Human Rights Watch have highlighted maltreatment of inmates, along with claims of unaccounted disappearances and deaths, indicating weaknesses in Rwanda’s rule of law. Journalists have previously reported on topics such as unlawful detention and torture, suggesting that human rights in Rwanda are not fully protected and that the rule of law remains fragile.
The Good News
Rwanda has introduced several frameworks and policies to address the lasting damage from its history of violence. One example is the ‘Rwanda Vision 2020’ development program, which outlines specific goals for sustainable development. The Rwandan anti-corruption policy, a component of Rwanda Vision 2020, recognizes the need for national development that can enhance the quality of life, promote a competitive economy and deliver effective and efficient public services. Achieving these goals involves good governance, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring and evaluation frameworks to uphold the rule of law.
Government stability can be best preserved by increasing transparency, which reduces the likelihood of corruption and illegal activity. Transparency International reports that Rwanda recently ranked as the fourth-least corrupt African country. Rwandan officials’ statements support this, noting the acceptance and adoption of a culture of ‘transparency and accountability’ within the Rwandan government. Increased government transparency is likely the primary reason behind these improvements in Rwanda’s government, as strong checks and balances are essential to long-term stability and preventing government failure.
Addressing fragility has had and will continue to have beneficial effects for Rwandans living in absolute poverty. One framework included in Rwanda Vision 2020, the Vision Umurenge Program (VUP), aims to target absolute poverty and elevate Rwanda to a middle-income country. VUP provides financial assistance to accelerate poverty reduction through economic advancement schemes. This framework includes female beneficiaries, empowering women, who often belong to the poorest socioeconomic groups, by distributing funding more equitably among household members. This effectively targets some of the lowest-income individuals and accelerates poverty reduction.
Following Rwanda Vision 2020, which set targets to be achieved by 2020, Rwanda has introduced the Rwanda Vision 2050 policy. This policy outlines goals for improving health care and education provision, as well as increasing workforce productivity. By enhancing access to public goods and boosting productivity levels, Rwanda aims to reduce absolute poverty rates, ensuring more Rwandans have access to basic necessities, regardless of their household income. Overall, Rwanda is making steady progress toward eradicating absolute poverty.
– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr
How Iraq Eliminated Trachoma
What is Trachoma?
Trachoma, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, is a disease affecting the eyes. If left untreated, trachoma may cause irreversible blindness. Symptoms of the infection include inflammation of the eyelids, swollen lymph nodes and discharge from the eye. Nearly 2 million people have suffered visual impairment from the neglected tropical disease, and nearly 125 million live in areas where trachoma is endemic.
The disease is spread through direct or indirect contact with the eyes or nose of an infected person, with poor sanitation and hygiene serving as major risk factors for exacerbated transmission. Because of this, trachoma predominantly affects regions with little access to clean water and a higher population density.
Iraq’s Efforts
In order to combat the spread of this disease, Iraq introduced a program to monitor trachoma among its population in 2012. The screening system was introduced in Iraq’s eye care facilities, as well as through in-school eye screening programs.
The program involved thousands of eye care specialists and health care workers dedicated to combating trachoma as a public health issue. Through these measures, Iraq was able to successfully counter the unchecked spread of trachoma and treat patients in need of antibiotics.
Mitigating the Spread
The elimination of trachoma was made possible through a number of approaches to improve public health. In order to properly address the spread of the disease, the WHO recommends a number of policies designed to reduce the spread and progression of trachoma.
The SAFE strategy has shown to be very effective in combating trachoma and is encouraged in many countries facing issues of endemic trachoma. This strategy includes Surgery for those dealing with advanced stages of the disease, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvements — particularly improvements in sanitation.
The Impacts
Trachoma significantly affects living conditions and economic activity in Iraq. The elimination of trachoma within the country has the potential to significantly affect the quality of life and poverty in Iraq’s most vulnerable regions.
Accessibility of treatment and prevention in Iraq has reduced the risk of contraction and progression of trachoma. Areas previously affected by the disease now have a far lower risk of visual impairment and blindness as a result of the infection.
Trachoma’s global economic burden is estimated to be between $2 to 5 billion each year, centering around lost productivity as a result of vision loss. The elimination of trachoma provides a great deal of relief for regions most affected by the disease, including the potential for more economic stability.
Conclusion
Iraq’s success in eradicating trachoma serves as yet another step towards the global eradication of the disease. After Iraq eliminated trachoma, it became the fifth country in the region to successfully tackle the disease. This achievement demonstrates the importance of comprehensive approaches to public health issues, as well as the potential for further disease prevention in Iraq and abroad.
– Mary Burke
Photo: Flickr
Tackling Diphtheria in Nigeria
Diphtheria in Nigeria: Unraveling the Facts
Diphtheria is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease passed between hosts via direct contact or respiratory droplets. Its symptoms include a sore throat, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, swollen glands and the presence of a thick, gray membrane on the throat and tonsils.
Diphtheria is fatal in 5-10% of cases; however, without access to the appropriate antitoxins, it can have a fatality rate of up to 40%. As of August 2023, Nigeria’s outbreak has a fatality rate just below 9%. While this indicates that the outbreak has been more or less controlled, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern that Nigeria does not possess enough antitoxin to continue battling the disease.
Those Most Vulnerable: Unimmunized Children
Unimmunized children are at particularly high risk of contracting diphtheria. Indeed, over 70% of Nigeria’s confirmed cases in 2023 affect children between the ages of 2 and 14. Of those afflicted, more than three-quarters had not received diphtheria immunization. This reflects a broader issue of vaccine access, disproportionately affecting low-income families who struggle to afford the time or transportation costs associated with vaccinating their children. As a result, only a third of Nigerian children are fully vaccinated, making those left behind vulnerable to diseases like diphtheria.
Striving for Change
In response to the increase of diphtheria in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Nigerian Center for Disease Control are procuring and supplying necessary supplies like masks, hand sanitizer and antibiotics to health care facilities. Additionally, they are prioritizing training health workers and volunteers in preventing the spread of and treating patients diagnosed with the disease. This includes ensuring that there is enough diphtheria antitoxin available to prevent the fatality rate from rising any higher.
In an effort to curb the long-term effects of diphtheria in Nigeria, these organizations are also transporting vaccines to communities all around the country, hoping to boost the population’s immunity in the short and long term.
The state of diphtheria in Nigeria reveals the intricate relationship between health and poverty. Because the 2023 outbreak has terrifying consequences for low-income families who cannot access vaccination or treatment for their children, it presents an opportunity to acknowledge and repair the country’s immunization landscape and health system. With attention to the needs of its most vulnerable, it is possible for Nigeria to relegate the grip diphtheria has on its children to its history and create a more resilient future for all.
– Faye Crawford
Photo: Pexels
How Farming Innovations Aid Agriculture in Vanuatu
The Republic of Vanuatu, a nation mainly composed of 13 major islands in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and Fiji, was established in 1980 following a negotiated independence from joint British and French administrations. The management of and rights to use land — important considering that the archipelago’s economy traditionally includes subsistence farming and cash crop agricultural trades — was a defining element of Vanuatu’s early politics and pro-independence movement.
Background
Noted for stability and relative success in addressing food security, the Republic of Vanuatu faced hurdles due to natural disasters, in particular an earthquake in 2002 and Cyclone Pam in 2005. These natural disasters have impacted efforts to increase food security and reduce the effects of poverty, such as inadequate infrastructure and access to essential resources. Though Vanuatu generally outperforms other nations with similar geography and wealth, poverty and food security remain ongoing policy challenges where an international presence remains prominent.
More than 20% of the population experienced food insecurity and 28.5% of children under 5 years old experienced stunting. Additionally, obesity from unhealthy foods and unvaried diets is more widespread, with more than 35% of men and 49% of women overweight.
Dietary nutrition and diversity hurdles were clear following Cyclone Pam due to the quality of emergency foods distributed; a majority of the aid was composed of packaged noodles, tinned meat and other packaged goods directly associated with hypertension and poor nutritional and health outcomes. Fortunately, there are efforts to improve agriculture in Vanuatu to address challenges regarding food security.
Programs Aid in Strengthening Essential Local Farming
With more than 75% of the population rural and employed in the agricultural field, efforts to improve the resilience of farmers and the local networks that trade crops have been integral to improving resilience and food security. These market vendors and traders are often key to the local economy, additionally providing economic stability to those in rural areas, where the ability to seek secure employment remains narrow.
Novel investment in programs intended to bolster both production in agriculture in Vanuatu and the economic infrastructure dependent upon farming has developed new means that have provided the basis for new ways of providing international assistance. These approaches, which the United Nations is currently spearheading, include programs intended to give farmers and market vendors access to funds and education programs to allow the expansion of the number and size of markets, especially rural cooperatives.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP)
This regionally tailored approach is also the source of experimentation to improve resilience in crop growth, with investments from regional development organizations, such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP). In 2022, SPREP announced participation in the establishment of the OSCAR system, a computerized system that compiles information related to climate and the effect of climate on crops, which allows for crop management techniques to be adjusted for conditions.
These programs allow farmers to maximize productivity and are widely accessible, with standardized bulletins issued via radio, television, print and over the Internet. These investments should improve resilience, food supply and diversity, including during natural disasters.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Vanuatu is also pursuing additional international funding to provide direct financial support to informational-gathering initiatives with the Vanuatuan government. In 2022, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization announced a $300,000 partnership with various multinational organizations, including the European Union and the Vanuatu Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Bio-Security to fund and develop a comprehensive census on the socioeconomic demographics of those in the agricultural industries and the state of agriculture.
This and other resources are for use in developing policies and reforms that improve output, food security, the ability to grow farming output and the economic potential of those living outside urban centers.
Global Implications for Vanuatuan Developments
These innovations and novel approaches to development, which both permit local participation and diverse environments influence the role of aid to reflect the needs and assets, such as Vanuatu’s substantial trading networks of markets, to strengthen the impact of global efforts to enhance food security and reduce economic insecurity. Additionally, methods seeking to improve agricultural yields and novel information-gathering systems have the potential to be utilized elsewhere, including in developed nations, where lessons learned in countries pursuing experimental approaches can be expanded upon.
– Cormac Sullivan
Photo: Flickr
Combating blindness in Africa
Eye Diseases Impacting Communities Across Africa
Common eye conditions such as cataracts are raging through African countries, leading to vision deterioration and blindness in some cases. However, some eye diseases, such as onchocerciasis, are regional to certain river valley-based farming communities. Onchocerciasis, also known as “river blindness,” exists mainly in Africa, with 99% of its victims being African. The disease, caused by a parasitic worm transmitted to humans by infected blackfly bites, has been effectively reduced by population-based treatment in other countries around the globe. However, in order to be effective, 80% of a community must partake in mass drug administration (MDA).
Blindness in African Children
A major cause for concern is blindness in African children. According to a study conducted by Gilbert and Foster, “in low-income countries with high under-5 mortality rates, the prevalence [of blindness in children] may be as high as 1.5 per 1,000 children.” To put this into perspective, in higher-income countries, 0.3 per 1,000 children are blind. Blindness erects barriers to education and job prospects.
Looking Forward
Thanks to advancements in the fields of optometry and technology, 80% of conditions causing sight loss are curable. Therefore, greater access to eye care across the African continent would dramatically decrease the number of adults and children developing vision issues. Not only would increased access to health care have a drastic impact on the quality of many people’s lives, it would also reduce the burden of blindness on the economy. A recent study found that 160.7 million people suffering from vision loss were within the working age bracket. As a result, around $408.5 billion is lost in potential productivity annually.
In Mali, located in West Africa, where the climate is harsh on crops and clean water is scarce, malnutrition is common. Malnutrition is known to be a cause of cataracts, a disease that causes the clouding of vision. The damage caused by the disease can be improved with a 10-minute surgery; however, with many Malians living in remote communities, access to medical assistance is scarce. Many charities such as “Embrace Relief” facilitate traveling doctors to provide check-ups and surgeries to these communities in need. With the help of donations and willing volunteers, Embrace Relief has delivered 60,000 health checkups and 3,700 cataract surgeries.
Blindness in Africa is massively exacerbated by the lack of access to appropriate health care. Furthermore, the African economy would see improvement — even if small — if access to eye care were improved across the continent.
– Christian Vince
Photo: Flickr
Empowering Youth: Vocational Training Centers in Syria
The Youth Crisis in Syria
The Syrian conflict, now spanning over a decade, has exacted a heavy toll on the country’s youth. A generation has grown up amid violence and displacement, facing a bleak future marred by lack of education, employment opportunities and prospects for advancement. The youth of Syria bear the brunt of this crisis, with many facing economic vulnerability and the risk of being trapped in a cycle of poverty.
Empowerment Through Vocational Training Centers
Vocational training centers in Syria have emerged as a transformative solution to the challenges faced by Syrian youth. These centers offer comprehensive training programs in a variety of fields, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, computer programming and more. By providing practical skills, these centers enable young Syrians to acquire expertise that is in demand both within and beyond their communities. In 2018 alone, over 3,200 children and adolescents benefitted from a UNICEF-sponsored program.
One of the key advantages of vocational training centers is their ability to equip youth with skills that directly align with local job markets. As a result, graduates are not only better positioned to secure gainful employment but also contribute to their local economies. This localized approach helps break the cycle of poverty by fostering self-sufficiency and economic stability within communities.
Breaking Down Barriers
These centers do more than just impart skills; they break down barriers that hinder youth empowerment. Many of the young people in Syria have been deprived of traditional education due to conflict. Vocational training offers them an alternative pathway to self-improvement and economic independence. Additionally, these centers often incorporate life skills training, which equips participants with valuable skills such as communication, problem-solving and teamwork — skills that are essential for success in any field.
Furthermore, vocational training centers promote gender equality by welcoming both male and female participants. In a region where gender disparities persist, these centers provide a platform for women to access education and skills training that were once out of reach. By empowering women through vocational training, these centers contribute to a more inclusive society and economy.
Fighting Global Poverty
The impact of vocational training centers in Syria extends beyond its borders. By investing in skills development, these centers indirectly contribute to the fight against global poverty. Equipped with skills that are in demand internationally, graduates of these centers are better positioned to secure jobs not only within Syria but also in neighboring countries and beyond. This reduces the burden on already strained host countries and helps create a more stable economic environment for the region.
Moreover, the concept of vocational training centers can be replicated in other conflict-affected regions or areas with high levels of poverty. The success of these centers serves as a model for how targeted skill development initiatives can lead to self-sufficiency and economic growth, even in the most challenging circumstances.
– Valentin Lyazov
Photo: Flickr
Drinking Cup Project Improves Access to Drinking Water in Africa
How the Project Works
Hannover 96 is a second-tier football club in the city of Hannover, Germany. On average, around 30,000 fans pour into the Hannover 96 stadium on home match days and with the help of the “Drinking Cups for Drinking Water” project, these football fans are able to help improve water access in Africa while supporting their team.
The project, which is run on matchdays by around a dozen volunteers, works by collecting the cup deposits of fans who buy drinks in the stadium. As is the case in many stadiums, Hannover 96 sells these drinks more expensively but offers some money back for returning the cups to the food stands. Alternatively, Hannover 96 fans can give their cups to volunteers stationed in stalls around the stadium as a donation to the “Drinking Cups for Drinking Water” project.
At the end of the match, all the collected cups are then returned to the food stalls by the volunteers and the collected deposit money is donated to the project’s partner organization, the Global Nature Fund. The Global Nature Fund, a German-based nonprofit, then uses the donated money to fund projects that provide more people with access to drinking water in Africa.
Project Success
Now going into its 15th year, “Drinking Cups for Drinking Water” has enabled football fans to make a real difference in a number of countries. Overall, the Global Nature Fund reports that the deposit donations have created better clean water access for 125,000 people in the Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, Malawi and Kenya. This is the result of local projects led by the Global Nature Fund, improving and building wells. These initiatives to provide improved access to drinking water in Africa are significant as the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health reported that in 2020, more than 50% of people who lacked access to safe drinking water resided in Africa.
In Malawi, for example, funds from the charitable project enabled the creation of three clean water wells at local schools. Given that UNICEF estimates that more than 30% of Malawians do not have access to safe drinking water, improving access to water in the country is an immediate priority. The three wells provide clean water to around 10,000 schoolchildren as well as to households in the local area. To ensure the long-term success of its water access initiatives, the GNF also uses donations to educate local people on maintenance and engineering matters concerning the installations. By doing this, the organization ensures that the communities are able to repair and maintain their water access points while being self-reliant and independent from outside help. This guarantees that football fans are making a difference in the long term and provides work opportunities in the project regions.
Looking Ahead
“Drinking Cups for Drinking Water” looks poised to continue expanding its charitable work and bettering access to drinking water in Africa. In the last season, football fans raised nearly €70,000 for the initiative — a new season record. In the 23/24 season, the project is projected to surpass the donation mark of €500,000 to commemorate its 15th anniversary.
Apart from the increasing generosity of football fans, the project’s volunteers are also expanding the project’s reach by educating other football clubs on the idea, which could lead to more clubs getting involved. The success of “Drinking Cups for Drinking Water” shows that when united for a good cause, football fans are making a difference for people in need and have the power to drastically improve access to drinking water in Africa.
– Patrick Brownlow
Photo: Flickr
Toys Relieve Children’s Distress After Turkey-Syria Earthquakes
On February 6, 2023, two 7.8 magnitude earthquakes struck Turkey and neighboring Syria, killing more than 50,000 people. The destruction of hundreds of thousands of homes and unthinkable death tolls dominated news coverage, with little mention of the mental ramifications for child victims of the disaster. Research undertaken by UNICEF places 5.6 million children at the scene of the tremors, living in affected provinces, when the earthquakes struck. Of these child victims, approximately 700,000 endured displacement from their homes, relying on tents and other temporary sites for refuge. Post-disaster, toys have played a critical role in easing the distress of children and providing comfort to traumatized young victims. Media outlet Al Jazeera highlights how toys relieve children’s distress after natural disasters and other traumatic events.
Stories from Child Survivors
Al Jazeera investigated the role of toys in alleviating children’s distress in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes. Al Jazeera interviewed 8-year-old Elif who resided in Gaziantep, Turkey, the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred on February 6. Like thousands of other children, the quake left Elif traumatized and in fear of aftershocks. But, she took comfort in a doll that she grabbed from her home the night her family fled the earthquake. “This doll helped me fall asleep while I was afraid of all the aftershocks that lasted for weeks,” Elif told Al Jazeera.
Similar to Elif, the earthquake in February 2023 displaced 8-year-old Eymen and his family and pushed them to live in a car for a number of days following the earthquake. His mother told Al Jazeera that he has carried a toy car around with him ever since — a remnant of the only place where he felt safe.
The stories of Elif and Eymen are more than anecdotes. The stories confirm that, while toys cannot fix such unprecedented trauma, they offer comfort to those with minds too young to cope with the mental and emotional stress of such atrocities.
The Psychology
Clinical psychologist and disaster trauma expert, Zeynep Bahadir, told Anadolu that toys can “work as therapy” for child victims of natural disasters. Likening toys to words, Bahadir recommended that child victims play with toys related to the disaster in order to “digest the situation.” Evidently, in need of stability and comfort, children like Elif and Eymen rely on playtime to manage the distress of an unexpected crisis.
Solidarity Through Sport
On February 27, 2023, Besiktas fans made a heartwarming contribution to relief efforts in their Turkish Super Lig fixture against Antalyaspor. As the stopwatch reached four minutes and 17 seconds, officials paused the match occurring in Istanbul so that fans could shower the pitch with thousands of stuffed toys for the children impacted by the Turkey-Syria earthquake that initially occurred at 04:17 a.m. on February 6. The gesture aimed to provide emotional and mental support to children impacted by the disaster via toys and moved millions of viewers watching from around the world.
Long-Term Implications
Six months after the initial shocks, survivors are still grappling with the aftermath. The British Red Cross has explained that “while the immediate physical danger has stopped, […] the road to recovery for the 17 million people affected is extremely long.”
This explanation is solidified by statistics. The World Health Organization reported in May 2023 that Turkey and Syria have faced more than 30,000 aftershocks since the initial earthquake in February 2023 and 1.6 million people remained displaced, living in temporary settlements, as of June 2023. Evidently, survivors are feeling the impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes far beyond the initial quake on February 6.
Looking Forward
With victims’ homes, families and access to schooling destroyed in an instant, the IFRC has described the situation as a “mental health ticking time bomb.” While toys relieve children’s distress, for many of the 6.2 million children affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, mental health support is needed now more than ever if the psychological ramifications of the worst earthquake in modern history are to be rectified. UNICEF is committed to providing mental health support to displaced children and families but a great need still exists for further support in this regard.
– Imogen Townsend
Photo: Flickr
Khalsa Aid’s Response to Flooding in India
As a testament to the increasing severity of the monsoon rains, flooding from the Yamuna River reached the walls of the Taj Mahal. As the Yamuna reached its highest level on record at 684 feet, other sectors of Indian life were affected as well.
The Jamuna River, which runs through the capital of New Delhi, rose 681.5 feet, forcing schools to close, making residents evacuate and submerging cars and homes.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) classifies India as one of the nations most affected by climate change, and the flooding in India is only expected to worsen. Northern India received a month’s worth of rainfall in a single day, leading to 30,000 residents being moved to relief camps, 600 homes damaged and 300 people stranded.
How Impoverished Indians are Affected
The flooding in India affects poor populations the most. As homes are destroyed, individuals are displaced from their neighborhoods and forced to move. In fact, it is projected that 45 million Indians will be forced to migrate by the year 2050 as a result of climate-related disasters.
The destruction of homelands is not the only factor contributing to India’s climate refugee crisis. Although monsoon rains were traditionally necessary for successful crop yields, the damage of extreme climate events outweighs the benefits.
Individuals are forced deeper into poverty from flooding in India. Small farmers depending on agriculture to make a living can no longer cope with damage caused by severe weather. Since floods damage crops, roads, homes and land, workers cannot travel to their jobs or grow and transport their crops. In fact, the International Institute for Environment and Development found that 70% of households migrated after extreme weather disasters. To escape poverty, India’s most vulnerable populations abandon their livelihoods in hopes of finding jobs elsewhere.
Khalsa Aid International
Luckily, organizations such as Khalsa Aid are committed to mitigating the effects of extreme flooding in India. Khalsa Aid is an international non-governmental organization that provides humanitarian aid in disaster areas. The organization has been relying on the help of volunteers and donors since 1999 to help vulnerable populations dealing with issues like famine, water scarcity, civil war and more.
As a response to the July 2023 floods, Khalsa Aid coordinated emergency relief efforts in the Punjab region of northern India. Teams on the ground operated in Ropar, Morinda, Rajpura and other cities to provide food and shelter to people stranded in their villages by the flooding.
Looking Ahead
So far, Khalsa Aid U.S.A. has already donated $250,000 to clean-up and rebuilding efforts after the flooding in India. Although flooding and extreme weather events are expected to continue, the work of Khalsa Aid is a reminder that vulnerable populations throughout India and the world will be supported by those who care.
– Meilyn Farina
Photo: Unsplash
Venezuelan Immigrants in Peru
Dealing with this international crisis requires an understanding of the rise in immigration, the immigrants’ situations, the public’s perception of Venezuelan immigrants and the positive impact they have on Peru’s economy.
The Rise in Venezuelan Immigration
Venezuelan migration to Peru started to take off in 2017, with the Peruvian government taking action and granting Venezuelan refugees a temporary stay permit (PTP) for two years, with authorization to work included.
The number of Venezuelan migrants went from 8,000 in 2016 to 110,000 by the end of 2017. In 2018, that number increased to more than 530,000 migrants. As of 2023, there are more than 1.5 million Venezuelans settled in Peru, with no less than 530,000 of them asking for refugee status.
The Situation for Venezuelan Immigrants
According to a World Bank report, the average Venezuelan immigrant is between 18 and 29 years old, comes from primarily urban areas and is highly educated. Around 57% have completed secondary school, and half of that 57% have a university degree.
In fact, more Venezuelans have been living in Peru irregularly since 2018. This is because of the government’s withdrawal of their 2017 PTP and the introduction of the humanitarian visa in 2018, and once again, the return to the PTP in October 2020. The last two procedures were more specific than before, asking for internationally valid identification (passports) as well as imposing high fees for people who overstayed their original permits.
Due to their irregular migration status, Venezuelan immigrants are prone to working in the informal sector. In an assessment by the International Rescue Committee, 45% of 900 Venezuelan families in Peru declared to be working informally. This percentage increases when focusing explicitly on Venezuelan immigrants receiving financial aid.
Public Perception of Venezuelan Immigrants
Public perception of Venezuelan immigrants in Peru has been in steady decline for the last few years. In a 2019 survey by the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP), 73% of respondents disapproved of Venezuelan migration. However, 83% of the respondents admitted to not having any contact with Venezuelan immigrants.
Much of this discontent from Peruvians, especially those residing in Lima, Peru’s capital, stems from the belief that Venezuelan immigrants are the root of crime, despite this being unproven. A 2020 study by Equilibrium-CenDE shows that Venezuelan migration has had no impact on either crime rates or citizen security indices in Lima, Peru.
One true effect of Venezuelan migration is the displacement of female Peruvian workers in favor of Venezuelan workers, especially young women with low education levels. Other than that, the overall impact of Venezuelan migration on Peruvian workers is not significant, as a study shows that wages in Lima, Piura and Arequipa have not decreased due to the influx of Venezuelan workers.
Organizations Aiding Venezuelan immigrants
Fortunately, there are plenty of organizations aiding Venezuelan immigrants. For instance, the international NGO Save The Children has reached more than 37,000 Venezuelan citizens living in Peru, including 16,152 children, between 2019 and 2020.
In addition, the World Bank donated $3.5 million to the “COVID-19 Emergency Response for Venezuelan Migrants and Refugees in Peru.” This project is taking place in four regions of the country, and will mainly distribute financial aid to the Venezuelan population located in those regions.
– Luciana Mena
Photo: Flickr
Fragility and Rule of Law in Rwanda
A Brief Overview
Rwanda has a significant history of poverty and instability, attributed to various factors, from geography to politics. Approximately 38% of Rwandans currently live below the poverty line, defined by the U.N. as living on less than $2.15 a day. This means many struggle to maintain even a basic standard of living, exacerbating the fragility of Rwanda’s rule of law.
Fragility in Rwanda
Between 1990 and 1994, civil war overcame Rwanda, resulting in fragility and weakly upheld rule of law throughout the nation. A rift between the two major ethnic groups present in Rwanda at the time, the Hutus and the Tutsis was the pretext behind the civil war. The genocide had a lasting effect on Rwanda, decimating families and resulting in more than 800,000 civilian casualties.
Although the presence of fragility and unstable rule of law in Rwanda has diminished, it remains a complex factor affecting the country’s development. Despite efforts to rebuild and foster development, Rwanda still grapples with the legacy of its tragic history. Conflict traps such as these have been shown to have a catastrophic effect on the future development of any nation. The result is slow and unstable development, making it all the more challenging to establish security throughout the nation.
Democracy and Rule of Law
Government corruption also contributes to fragility in Rwanda. While Rwanda’s government structures have improved over time, its democracy and criminal justice system still face challenges. The current ruling party of Rwanda is the RPF, also known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front. There are basic barriers to fair democracy present, such as high administrative requirements for RPF opposition parties, as well as instances of imprisonment for opposing party members.
In the past, individuals labeled as ‘opponents of the government,‘ including bloggers and journalists reporting on political issues, have faced arrest and illegitimate trials. This raises questions about the stability of democracy and the preservation of political freedom of speech.
Previous allegations of corruption have also raised concerns about the integrity of Rwanda’s criminal justice system. Reports from Human Rights Watch have highlighted maltreatment of inmates, along with claims of unaccounted disappearances and deaths, indicating weaknesses in Rwanda’s rule of law. Journalists have previously reported on topics such as unlawful detention and torture, suggesting that human rights in Rwanda are not fully protected and that the rule of law remains fragile.
The Good News
Rwanda has introduced several frameworks and policies to address the lasting damage from its history of violence. One example is the ‘Rwanda Vision 2020’ development program, which outlines specific goals for sustainable development. The Rwandan anti-corruption policy, a component of Rwanda Vision 2020, recognizes the need for national development that can enhance the quality of life, promote a competitive economy and deliver effective and efficient public services. Achieving these goals involves good governance, strengthening law enforcement and monitoring and evaluation frameworks to uphold the rule of law.
Government stability can be best preserved by increasing transparency, which reduces the likelihood of corruption and illegal activity. Transparency International reports that Rwanda recently ranked as the fourth-least corrupt African country. Rwandan officials’ statements support this, noting the acceptance and adoption of a culture of ‘transparency and accountability’ within the Rwandan government. Increased government transparency is likely the primary reason behind these improvements in Rwanda’s government, as strong checks and balances are essential to long-term stability and preventing government failure.
Addressing fragility has had and will continue to have beneficial effects for Rwandans living in absolute poverty. One framework included in Rwanda Vision 2020, the Vision Umurenge Program (VUP), aims to target absolute poverty and elevate Rwanda to a middle-income country. VUP provides financial assistance to accelerate poverty reduction through economic advancement schemes. This framework includes female beneficiaries, empowering women, who often belong to the poorest socioeconomic groups, by distributing funding more equitably among household members. This effectively targets some of the lowest-income individuals and accelerates poverty reduction.
Following Rwanda Vision 2020, which set targets to be achieved by 2020, Rwanda has introduced the Rwanda Vision 2050 policy. This policy outlines goals for improving health care and education provision, as well as increasing workforce productivity. By enhancing access to public goods and boosting productivity levels, Rwanda aims to reduce absolute poverty rates, ensuring more Rwandans have access to basic necessities, regardless of their household income. Overall, Rwanda is making steady progress toward eradicating absolute poverty.
– Hannah Bugeja
Photo: Flickr