The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, leading to widespread job losses and a sharp decline in economic activity. COVID-19 has particularly hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria has added to the country’s economic and social challenges as it experienced a double shock due to a sudden fall in foreign revenues and recession-induced lockdown measures.
Algeria’s Oil-Dependent Economy
Algeria’s oil-dependent economy suffered a severe blow accounting for more than 95% of the government’s budget. The economy has struggled due to years of falling global oil prices since 2014. Algeria heavily relies on oil and gas exports, rather than diversifying into other sectors, which made it vulnerable to the disruption of global trade due to COVID-19.
Before the pandemic, Algeria was already facing significant economic challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment that reached 26%, while women’s unemployment rate was on the rise and widening the gender gap. Inequality and economic hardships led to nationwide strikes and protests.
Moreover, Algeria suffers from multidimensional poverty that affects all poverty dimensions: education, health, living conditions, unemployment and financial inclusion. A 2021 Economic Research Forum article said that despite laws that provide mandatory education for nine years and the health law that assumes that health care is free for all, Algeria still needs to achieve those objectives.
In addition, more than 75% of the population do not have access to either hot water, heaters, television or refrigerator, or access to the internet. In comparison, 60% of the population has no access to waste management and 43% of households have at least one child not registered in school.
Decrease in Economic Activity
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded Algeria’s economic challenges, leading to the closure of businesses, job losses and a sharp decline in consumer confidence, which resulted in a significant decrease in economic activity, exacerbating poverty levels in the country.
To curb the spread of the virus, the Algerian government implemented curfews and mandatory closing times for businesses. However, these measures disproportionately affected low-wage and informal workers who could not work remotely and lacked job security.
The Algerian Government’s Measures
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on poverty in Algeria, the government has taken several measures, including providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises, food subsidies and cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations.
It also launched a major vaccination campaign to reach 70% of the population and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy, according to the Middle East Institute (MEI). The success of this vaccination drive was critical in restoring consumer confidence and kickstarting economic growth in the country, thus, decreasing the poverty rate and its effects. In April 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classified Algeria as a “slow inoculator” in its regional economic index, indicating that the country was lagging in its vaccination efforts.
The government fully funded a massive program to ensure vaccine accessibility to all residents. It has also “prioritized health care workers, vulnerable people and police officers” first to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The government should test its health system periodically to improve operational abilities and evaluate its financial system to ensure adequate reimbursements, which will equip the country with a better capability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria.
NGOs That are Helping
NGOs in Algeria have also played a crucial role in supporting the health care system to provide lifesaving care to Algerians. In August 2022, the Algerian Medical Network launched a fundraising campaign to purchase medical equipment and hospital supplies as the country faced a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Nas Al-Khair, a local NGO operating in northwestern Algeria, launched a campaign to spread awareness, distribute masks and sanitizers and deliver food to residents safely to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on the community.
Despite the challenges Algeria’s economy faces before and during the pandemic, there are signs of a slow recovery and these measures have helped to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria. However, the economic outlook remains uncertain and challenging as pre-pandemic vulnerabilities persist. The IMF has highlighted the need for Algeria to address its declining energy revenues and support the private sector to ensure sustainable economic growth. The Algerian government has implemented plans to tackle these challenges and promote economic recovery.
– Nisan Ahmado
Photo: Flickr
Bright Hope’s Mission
Bright Hope is a Christian Organization working to bring hope to those who live on less than $2 a day. The organization hopes to transform communities and encourage self-sustainability by starting churches throughout impoverished communities. For over 50 years, Bright Hope has worked to provide community infrastructure through church planting and creating goals for today, tomorrow and eternity. Bright Hope’s mission is to eradicate poverty both physically and spiritually.
History of Bright Hope
Bright Hope began in 1968 after founder Dr. Kevin Dyer traveled through Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union and saw the state of the poor and persecuted Christians. The organization focused primarily on immediate relief for those suffering and has since extended to include more long-term goals.
Bright Hope’s Mission
Bright Hope’s mission includes goals for today, tomorrow and eternity. Its mission for today focuses on smaller and more urgent tasks, such as providing clean water, care for abandoned children, food programs in schools, medical care and strengthening family bonds. The mission for tomorrow extends to more long-term impacts, including better education for children, job training for adults, more sustainable agricultural practices and animal rearing. Lastly, its eternal goals bring the mission’s Christian background and focus on developing church leadership, ministries and community discipleship support. About 43.7% of funding is focused on the hope for tomorrow’s goals, working to end the cycle of poverty. In contrast, 20.1% goes toward short-term relief for those already in poverty and the remaining 36.2% goes to the mission’s evangelical goals and eternal mission.
The Urgent Needs
Bright Hope’s mission continues to extend throughout Bolivia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. The organization focuses on aid in each of these countries without fostering dependence. Empowering the people in each community encourages individuals to raise themselves out of physical, economic and spiritual poverty. Some of its programs urgently need help, including its mission to help Haitian families provide food for themselves, the project to bring food security to Kenya by supporting Natoot farmers and their long-term goal of ending abuse in Bolivia to prevent future poverty.
The Impact Catalog
Brighthope.org allows monetary donations and prayer donations and offers an impact catalog. Its impact catalog allows those who donate to see a more visual representation of where their money is going. Those who donate can choose between funding loans for Haitian rice farmers, supporting print and copy centers, giving books to children and even donating animals such as chickens and rabbits.
Bright Hope also offers the opportunity to donate “Mama Kits,” bags full of the basic essentials to care for a newborn for struggling parents. The kits directly support expecting mothers and include baby clothing, blankets, soap, oil and carrying bags.
The bags have transformed the lives of many in Uganda. Bright Hope’s blog details the story of one expectant mother, Desire, who gained the confidence and peace she needed to continue her pregnancy through the efforts of the Bright Hope program and its Mama Kits. Uganda hospitals often require women to bring their own medical birthing supplies, which can be challenging to obtain. The Mama Kit works to support mothers in Uganda and other countries to ease the financial burden that pregnancy often causes.
Looking Ahead
Through projects such as Mama Kits, Bright Hope’s mission impacts individual lives throughout the work to provide essential assistance for those in poverty. Bright Hope also works to connect and celebrate the impact that all donors make and promises to provide regular updates on its programs and impact reports to those who choose to support its mission financially.
– Brooklynn Rich
Photo: Flickr
Foreign Aid to Turkey and Syria Amid Natural Disaster
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and northern Syria collapsing more than 6,500 buildings and destroying neighborhoods. The earthquake has become the worst disaster in Turkey’s modern history. As a result of this natural disaster, dozens of countries and humanitarian organizations across the globe have mobilized to send assistance and aid to Turkey and Syria in their times of need.
Humanitarian Organizations
Turkey, a country with the largest refugee population in the world, is home to an already vulnerable population in the exact towns where the earthquake struck. With 3.6 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, many humanitarian groups and aid organizations are already familiar with these areas. Many old and new humanitarian organizations have stationed themselves in and sent aid to Turkey to help rescue and slowly rebuild the nation:
Foreign Aid and Resources
Many countries have sent aid to Turkey and Syria in their time of need. Different countries are providing help in various forms. Some are sending teams and dogs to help rescue people from the rubble, others are sending money and many are sending physical resources.
Germany has offered temporary visas to victims of the disaster whose families are already living in Germany. It also sent search and rescue teams to the countries. The EU has sent search and rescue teams from 19 different countries. China has sent $5.9 million to Turkey along with an additional $200,000 to both Syria and Turkey.
Thousands of individuals went to Turkey and Syria as part of rescue and medical teams from various countries including the United States, Switzerland, the European Union and the Czech Republic. Tons of supplies like medical supplies, tents, food and emergency equipment have gone to the two countries from supporting countries across the globe including Algeria, Australia, Iran and Pakistan. In terms of financial aid, countries like France, China, Malaysia and New Zealand have sent hundreds of millions of dollars.
Moving Forward
While aid to Turkey and Syria is still an immense need due to the destruction caused by the earthquake, the global community has offered support and come to the aid of those affected. From humanitarian organizations like the United Nations to more than 32 countries globally, the response to this disaster has shown that the people of Turkey have the support of those around the world.
– Kellyjohana Ahumada
Photo: Flickr
How Precision Farming Could Feed Millions Globally
Precision farming or the use of advanced technologies to improve agricultural efficiency and output is a growing industry with the potential to completely transform the farming sector worldwide. Through the use of intelligent algorithms, advanced mechanisms and fledgling inventions, precision farming has the possibility of saving time, money and resources for generations to come. In fact, for nearly 78% of impoverished citizens worldwide who rely primarily on agricultural means to sustain their lives, combined governmental investment in precision farming could mark the turning point into an exponential rise in income, quality of life and sustainability for the rest of their lives.
What is Precision Farming?
Precision farming, a subsector of the agricultural industry, is an advanced technique of utilizing novel technologies and mechanics to maximize crop output while minimizing the levels of traditional inputs needed to grow crops. The use of automated irrigation systems, drone-based planting and intelligent path-generation tools are all examples of ways to implement this approach on a large scale. In places where even the smallest savings make a huge difference, methods like these would benefit farmers by saving precious commodities like fuel, fertilizer, herbicide and water. Indeed, a 2021 study found that precision farming across the United States resulted in a 25% increase in wheat yields compared to the 1980 levels. It resulted in millions of dollars saved from a nearly 10% drop in herbicide and pesticide usage nationwide.
Vietnam
In countries like Vietnam, the practice of precision farming has already begun to yield remarkable results. For years, paddy farming has been the cornerstone of rural employment in the country. Yet, it has remained an arduous and costly process that places a heavy demand on precious water resources. However, with the introduction of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method, many of those hurdles were overcome. Through this technique, water requirements for farming reduced by up to 28%, while methane emissions decreased by almost 50%. Furthermore, in order to help finance and maintain these efforts, the Korea World Bank Partnership Facility funded a plan to make the irrigation process easier to access and understand for the average citizen. As a result of these initiatives, Vietnamese farmers have reduced water usage in their paddy farming operations. This has led to increased prosperity and strengthened their overall economic positions.
Brazil
Brazil stands as yet another testament to the immense potential of precision farming. Since the technology’s debut in 1980, Brazil has experienced unprecedented agronomic growth with a 206% increase in national grain yield and a 394% increase in production. With the introduction of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), advanced pesticide deployment and targeting were employed throughout the country, which proved to be much more effective than the traditional methods. Soil research and analysis also proved instrumental. Through these methods, farmers could more accurately and efficiently find the optimal sites for their crops and maximize output. As a result of these tremendous efforts, Brazil managed to lower its poverty headcount ratio by almost 94%, from 30.6% in 1983 to just 1.9% of the population in 2020.
Next Steps in Revolutionizing Agriculture
Although some nations have taken many commendable steps to incorporate precision farming into their industries, much work remains. Greater funding of government programs and increased public awareness of the benefits of precision farming are two crucial factors that can help drive progress in this area. Continued investment in precision farming and collaboration to overcome existing challenges can help create more sustainable and prosperous farming practices for all.
– Sanjith Sambath
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Rights in Barbados
Women’s rights in Barbados have come a long way since the early 20th century when women’s organizations first began advocating for gender equality in the country. Today, women in Barbados enjoy legal protections against domestic violence and discrimination and have made significant gains in areas such as education and political representation.
One major milestone in the history of women’s rights in Barbados was the granting of suffrage to women in 1950. Since then, women have been able to participate in elections and hold political office, including the position of Prime Minister. Mia Mottley held the position of Prime Minister in Barbados from 2018 to 2022 and was the first woman to hold the title. However, women still face underrepresenting in political and economic leadership positions and gender-based violence remains a persistent issue in the country.
Government’s Efforts
To address these challenges, the Barbadian government has established and signed a number of initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. These include the Beijing Platform for Action, which outlines goals and objectives for achieving gender equality and women’s rights in Barbados. As a result of signing this document, Barbados has made significant positive progress towards freedom and equality for women such as eliminating the direct discrimination and violence against women in public spheres and activities. Barbados is also in compliance with the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, the only binding and legal document against gender-based violence and upholds women’s physical, sexual and psychological integrity.
Barbados strengthened these impacts by passing the Domestic Violence Protections Order Amendment Act 2016, one of the strongest Protection Orders in the region that gives emergency protection orders to police and focuses on best practices to combat gender-based violence.
The Bureau of Gender Affairs is another important institution, responsible for promoting women’s rights in Barbados and ensuring that a gender perspective is integrated into all governmental plans and policies.
Making Progress
In 2022 the World Bank compared 190 countries’ economies across eight different categories. The results show that Barbados scored a perfect score in four areas analyzed: workplace, marriage, assets and pension. Barbados has many laws securing a woman’s position in the workplace and ensuring that there are policies against workplace discrimination and harassment, they even ensure the possibility to file a lawsuit when there is harassment against women in the workplace. When it comes to marriage, women have secured rights regarding divorce and remarrying, making sure that women’s relationships with men uphold women’s rights in Barbados.
While these scores are encouraging, Barbados did not score well in the categories of mobility, pay, parenthood and entrepreneurship. Women in Barbados do not receive adequate paid maternity leave when compared to males and they are also unable to receive the same credit benefits in their businesses as men do. This made Barbados’ overall score 80 out of 100, lower than the average score in Latin America and the Caribbean. There are still many laws that do not protect women in Barbados. For example, approximately 30% of women from ages 20-24 were married before 18, women hold only 20% of seats in parliament and there is an adolescent birth rate of 49.7%.
The Future
Despite challenges, women in Barbados have made significant strides in a number of areas. Women now outnumber men in tertiary education and there is a growing awareness of the importance of gender equality in the country and governmental leaders are working to implement policies that address inequalities. As Barbados looks to the future, it will be important to build on these achievements and continue working towards a more equitable and just society for all. Many are still calling for a National Gender Policy, which the government of Barbados has stated is currently in progress.
– Kellyjohana Ahumada
Photo: Flickr
Raising Awareness of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
Scattered across the country of South Africa, amongst a landscape of rich and vivid beauty, outside of diverse busy cities, are smaller, poorer cities, known as townships. Townships began as a means of racial segregation during Apartheid; these were places for black people and people of color to live and they remain racially segregated settlements, where people often live in extreme poverty. It is here that the intersections of poverty and gender collide. Gender-based violence is so prevalent that Diepsloot, one of the biggest townships in the country, witnesses murders of women in the streets. This happens within a country where femicide is five times higher than the global average. Within the lush landscape of South Africa, an ugly side lurks.
How Does Poverty in Townships Influence Gender-Based Violence?
Many studies conclude that poverty and gender-based violence are in a close relationship: a lack of economic stability means there are fewer opportunities to escape a dangerous situation and fewer resources to seek help. Similarly, the violence women and girls experience can feed into their poverty: traumas or even physical injuries endured can lead to a lack of work prospects. Yet, because of the history of townships as spaces of racial segregation, the gender-based violence within them is not just a matter of class or gender. It is also a matter of race. Naledi Joyi, writing for the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), argues that violence in townships against Black women’s bodies is unyielding and multifaceted. Social indicators of class, gender and race intertwine to make it harder for Black women living in poverty to have access to appropriate resources for help.
The Local: Green Door
Authorities need to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa in its poorest communities and they are making progress. According to CSVR, police response and medical assistance to violence against women and girls in townships are inadequate. However, local programs developed within township communities can offer help to women in vulnerable situations.Diepsloot, located on the peripheries of Johannesburg, is one of the densest townships in South Africa and is the home of Green Door, a local shelter for women and children. Originally beginning as a response to the high levels of violence against women and girls in the township, Green Door is a small building that offers victims temporary shelter, support, resources and legal advice. It is the only place of its kind in Diepsloot and a “lifeline” to many.
The National: Women for Change
Women for Change is a national nonprofit grassroots organization that aims to eradicate gender-based violence in South Africa. Since 2016, it has been advocating for women’s rights in the face of a government that fails to acknowledge the severity of the problem. Women for Change aims to eradicate gender-based violence and femicide within a country that reports 146 sexual offenses daily, with an estimated 95% of assaults unreported, according to its website. The organization utilizes its large social media presence to globalize the information and raise awareness in the world of the plight of many South African women and girls. Though Women for Change does not work strictly with women in townships, its dedication to ending the country’s epidemic of gender-based violence by raising voices means that others will hear the voices of all women and girls in South Africa.
Making the Fight Global
The work that is occurring to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa at large and give voice to the women living in townships is imperative. Organizations, such as Green Door and Women for Change, are paving a path toward a better future for all women. These organizations can ensure that these forgotten cities, where women and girls’ needs are often overlooked, do not hold forgotten women. They too have a voice.
– Eloïse Jones
Photo: Flickr
The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Algeria
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, leading to widespread job losses and a sharp decline in economic activity. COVID-19 has particularly hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria has added to the country’s economic and social challenges as it experienced a double shock due to a sudden fall in foreign revenues and recession-induced lockdown measures.
Algeria’s Oil-Dependent Economy
Algeria’s oil-dependent economy suffered a severe blow accounting for more than 95% of the government’s budget. The economy has struggled due to years of falling global oil prices since 2014. Algeria heavily relies on oil and gas exports, rather than diversifying into other sectors, which made it vulnerable to the disruption of global trade due to COVID-19.
Before the pandemic, Algeria was already facing significant economic challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment that reached 26%, while women’s unemployment rate was on the rise and widening the gender gap. Inequality and economic hardships led to nationwide strikes and protests.
Moreover, Algeria suffers from multidimensional poverty that affects all poverty dimensions: education, health, living conditions, unemployment and financial inclusion. A 2021 Economic Research Forum article said that despite laws that provide mandatory education for nine years and the health law that assumes that health care is free for all, Algeria still needs to achieve those objectives.
In addition, more than 75% of the population do not have access to either hot water, heaters, television or refrigerator, or access to the internet. In comparison, 60% of the population has no access to waste management and 43% of households have at least one child not registered in school.
Decrease in Economic Activity
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded Algeria’s economic challenges, leading to the closure of businesses, job losses and a sharp decline in consumer confidence, which resulted in a significant decrease in economic activity, exacerbating poverty levels in the country.
To curb the spread of the virus, the Algerian government implemented curfews and mandatory closing times for businesses. However, these measures disproportionately affected low-wage and informal workers who could not work remotely and lacked job security.
The Algerian Government’s Measures
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on poverty in Algeria, the government has taken several measures, including providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises, food subsidies and cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations.
It also launched a major vaccination campaign to reach 70% of the population and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy, according to the Middle East Institute (MEI). The success of this vaccination drive was critical in restoring consumer confidence and kickstarting economic growth in the country, thus, decreasing the poverty rate and its effects. In April 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classified Algeria as a “slow inoculator” in its regional economic index, indicating that the country was lagging in its vaccination efforts.
The government fully funded a massive program to ensure vaccine accessibility to all residents. It has also “prioritized health care workers, vulnerable people and police officers” first to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The government should test its health system periodically to improve operational abilities and evaluate its financial system to ensure adequate reimbursements, which will equip the country with a better capability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria.
NGOs That are Helping
NGOs in Algeria have also played a crucial role in supporting the health care system to provide lifesaving care to Algerians. In August 2022, the Algerian Medical Network launched a fundraising campaign to purchase medical equipment and hospital supplies as the country faced a surge in COVID-19 cases.
Nas Al-Khair, a local NGO operating in northwestern Algeria, launched a campaign to spread awareness, distribute masks and sanitizers and deliver food to residents safely to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on the community.
Despite the challenges Algeria’s economy faces before and during the pandemic, there are signs of a slow recovery and these measures have helped to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria. However, the economic outlook remains uncertain and challenging as pre-pandemic vulnerabilities persist. The IMF has highlighted the need for Algeria to address its declining energy revenues and support the private sector to ensure sustainable economic growth. The Algerian government has implemented plans to tackle these challenges and promote economic recovery.
– Nisan Ahmado
Photo: Flickr
King Charles’ Charitable Efforts
As Prince of Wales, Charles has long since made great efforts to transform lives and build sustainable communities. He has been a patron to more than 400 charities and in the last 10 years has raised approximately £140 million. However, as he takes his place as King, his new duties will necessarily require him to take a step back. Though expected to continue most of Elizabeth II’s 600 patronage involvements, he may have to offload or even entirely reconsider some of these commitments. What is sure is that Charles deeply values charitable action, and intends to go to great lengths to continue championing its cause.
King Charles’ Charitable Efforts as Prince
Charles waited his turn to become King for more than 70 years, an extended period that galvanized him to make a difference while Prince. By principle, he advocated a streamlining of the Monarchy, reducing expenditure that could make room for charitable efforts such as improving living conditions in some of the world’s poorest regions.
He has founded charities such as the Prince’s Foundation, an educational organization that aims to create a sustainable future for people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as the Prince’s Trust, which works towards a similar goal but exclusively within the United Kingdom.
Foremost among King Charles’ charitable efforts is establishing the Turquoise Mountain foundation, an NGO that works to protect heritage and communities around the world, providing “jobs, education and a renewed sense of pride” in developing regions. Since 2006, it has treated more than 160,000 patients at its Kabul clinic, built more than 50 small businesses in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Middle East, and helped preserve precious cultures while driving economic development.
Another prominent accomplishment is his founding of Duchy Originals in the early 1990s, with the goal of improving “soil fertility, biodiversity and human health.” His interest in the environment dates back to the 1960s, long before it was ubiquitously supported. The brand donates all its profits to charitable causes, and in the decade since partnering with Waitrose, a leading British supermarket, in 2009 turned over more than £30 million.
The Legacy of Elizabeth II
As impressive as Charles’ own track record is, he will be succeeding his mother Elizabeth II who has been hailed by some as the most charitable monarch in history, having raised more than £1.4 billion for charities in her lifetime.
This succession raises some doubt surrounding the future of fundraising. The first big question concerns what will become of Charles’ previous charitable duties. According to The Conversation, it is generally understood that William will take on the majority, though there are some who doubt if William will be quite as involved in the minutiae of advocacy as his father was, and whether this could affect performance.
Secondly, exactly what will become of Elizabeth II’s patronage is unknown. Though Charles could take on the majority, some commitments could be up for review in the near future.
Charles’ Pledges for the Future
What Charles has so far indicated for certain as King is that, according to his Christmas speech in 2022, charitable organizations “which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult of circumstances” will remain an integral part of his focus.
Though he has only been on the throne for a short period, among King Charles’ charitable efforts thus far has been a new £1.95 million pledge from the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF) to seven personally important causes. One of these recipients will be Practical Action, which aims to support farmers in their transition to regenerative farming approaches in sub-Saharan Africa. This is not only beneficial to the environment; it secures the posterity of local farmers. Practical Action will receive £390,000.
Charles’ early actions as king and his impressive charitable efforts as Prince of Wales show that, despite questions over leadership roles in the wake of his succession, the fight against poverty will continue to receive a great deal of support and advocacy from the British Monarchy.
Photo: Flickr
Period Poverty in Pakistan Heightens Amid Floods
Pakistan has some of the highest rates of period poverty globally, largely resulting from the persistent taboos that surround the issue of menstruation. As much as 80% of young girls in Pakistan drop out of school, partly due to a lack of menstrual education and inadequate supplies/facilities to adequately manage their menstruation. In some rural areas, women are restricted to a single room during their menstrual cycles. With recent floods destroying both homes and sanitation facilities in some areas, many women have no choice but to resort to harmful menstrual management practices.
Period Poverty and the 2022 Floods
In 2022, Pakistan saw some of the worst flooding in the nation’s history. The floods led to the deaths of 1,700 people at a minimum and displaced about 8 million individuals due to the destruction of homes. The floods had numerous knock-on effects, including increased period poverty in Pakistan.
Water submerged more than a third of the country during the height of Pakistan’s 2022 floods, leaving more than 8 million women without the necessary resources or facilities to properly manage their menstruation. During the floods, women resorted to using “plastic bags, leaves, damp newspapers, damp rags and old clothes” due to the lack of proper menstrual products.
Researchers from Aga Khan University Hospital conducted a study on menstrual hygiene among women aged 14-49 in Dadu district, Sindh province, an area that recent floods in Pakistan harshly impacted. Researchers noted that from 2019 to 2021, roughly 40% of the 25,000 females surveyed were not using any menstrual products at all.
While many organizations and national governments came to Pakistan’s aid, pledging more than $9 billion, relief packages did not prioritize menstrual aid as Pakistani society typically avoids the taboo topic. Period poverty and the use of unhygienic alternatives to manage menstruation along with a lack of hygiene facilities can lead to serious health implications, such as infections, toxic shock syndrome and vaginal diseases.
Pakistan heavily taxes menstrual products, placing them under a so-called “luxury tax” despite their necessity. Many women, especially in rural areas, simply cannot afford these supplies, resulting in “79[%]of Pakistani women [suffering] from poor menstrual hygiene every month,” according to The Diplomat.
Mahwari Justice
Mahwari Justice is a menstrual flood relief group that two students, Bushra Mahnoor and Anum Khalid, set up in July 2022. They have distributed menstrual hygiene products in Pakistan since the beginning of last year’s floods. The group believes that breaking the stigma around period poverty is one of the main hurdles when it comes to enabling more women to access period products in Pakistan. The students are unapologetic in the face of taboo with the name Mahwari simply translating to “periods” in Urdu.
The group adapts its menstrual kits to different areas based on the extent of the flooding impacts. For example, for the 660,000 people living in disaster relief camps in Pakistan in September 2022, washable products that can be reused are not suitable given poor water and sanitation access.
However, in areas less affected, teaching women to make their own reusable period products is an effective long-term solution. Mahwari Justice provided 20,000 menstrual kits to females in need at the peak of Pakistan’s 2022 floods. The group has pledged to continue fighting to end period poverty in Pakistan, not only in light of the recent flooding but also to create a brighter future for women and girls in Pakistan.
By putting girls and women at the forefront of relief efforts, aid organizations can prioritize the needs of some of the most marginalized individuals.
– Florence Jones
Photo: Flickr
Period Poverty in Peru
In May 2018, the World Bank shockingly announced that more than 500 million women worldwide live in period poverty. The inability to manage menstrual health due to the expense or unavailability of sanitary products or bathroom facilities is an issue women face globally. In counties where general poverty rates are higher, the level of period poverty is high. Indeed, Action Aid estimates that in developing nations, “half of all women and girls are sometimes forced to use items like rags, grass and paper” owing to a complete lack of hygiene products. One such country that experiences period poverty at a higher rate than the global average is Peru.
Poverty and COVID-19
Peru is located on South America’s west Pacific coast and with a population of 33 million people is the fourth largest nation on the continent. The Peruvian economy experienced significant growth in the first two decades of the 21st century with the rate of moderate poverty more than halving from 42.4% in 2007 to 20.2% in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Peru.
In terms of the number of deaths as a percentage of the population, Peru has the worst rates in the world. With a mortality rate of almost 666 deaths per 100,000 people, nearly double the U.S. percentage, Peru has suffered heavily during the last few years. The European Union accounts this high mortality rate to the “poor state of the Peruvian health system, with a lack of oxygen capacities and intensive care beds.” The country’s poor health care system is a leading cause of the high rate of period poverty in Peru as it currently lacks the capacity to produce and distribute sufficient sanitary products.
Education and Gender Inequality
The issue of period poverty in Peru is an issue of lack of gender equality in terms of education. Writing for GirlUp in May 2021, Giordana Montes and Lizandra Cañedo revealed that, in Latin American culture, menstruation is “considered dirty and something that should not be talked about in public. A taboo.” This belief accounts for reports from UNICEF Mexico claiming that a massive 43% of female students prefer to abstain from school during their cycle.
Indigenous girls, who live in rural areas and experience “the most extreme poverty,” account for “the least educated groups” in Peruvian society. This lack of education for girls causes an early imbalance between genders with the lasting implication that women receive fewer opportunities as they grow up.
The Solution
Fortunately, period poverty in Peru could come to an end. This involves both removing the stigma around periods and also providing sufficient hygiene kits and bathroom facilities to those who need them most. Other countries are paving the way with forward-thinking legislation to end period poverty. In 2020, Scotland became the first country to offer free sanitary products to all women. The same year, France and New Zealand began offering free sanitary products in schools.
While these effective yet expensive methods of tackling the issue are less attainable in poorer nations, the Peruvian government has been responding. The Peruvian Ministry of Education invested 165 million Soles to buy hygiene kits for schools which included menstrual hygiene products, helping to promote awareness and normalize the use of specific products, GirlUp reported. With this government’s willingness to act, as well as the expected global economic recovery in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of reducing period poverty in Peru looks promising.
– Max Edmund
Photo: Flickr
Saudi Arabia’s Recent Support to Yemen
On February 21, 2023, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to deposit $1 billion into the central bank of its middle eastern neighbor to the south, Yemen. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in April 2022, promised $3 billion worth of aid to Yemen’s internationally recognized president, Rashal al-Alimi, in a bid to bolster the country’s struggling economy. Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen aims to assist the Riyadh-backed government to introduce much-needed economic reforms.
The Crisis in Yemen
According to the World Bank, Yemen’s GDP per capita, steadily declining since the onset of the war in 2014, stood at $701.7 in 2018. This decline is likely the result of many governmental issues, but primarily an ongoing civil war entering its ninth year. According to the United Nations Population Fund, as a result of the devastating conflict, 21.6 million Yemeni people need humanitarian aid in 2023. About 80% of the population lives in conditions of poverty, struggling to secure their basic needs, including access to water, food and health services.
The conflict started when Houthi rebels took control of the country’s capital, Sanaa, with demands for lower fuel costs, which in January 2015, forced the Yemen government into exile. Later in March 2015, with U.S. support, Gulf states, including the UAE, driven by Saudi Arabia, began to push for “economic isolation and air strikes” against the Iran-backed insurgents.
Even with the help of multiple powerful countries, the civil war has all but torn to pieces Yemen’s already struggling economy. According to the Department of State, since the onset of the war, as of 2022, the U.S. has provided close to $4.5 billion worth of humanitarian aid to struggling Yemeni people.
Once importing 40% of its grain from Ukraine, food prices have skyrocketed in Yemen since supply chains came to halt following Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country in February 2022. Additionally, oil refining and exportation — Yemen’s primary sources of income — have slowed acutely since Houthi attacks on tankers and crucial processing facilities.
According to the Middle East Institute, “…given that most of the oil exported from Yemen’s southern terminals is pumped out of fields in the southern part of the country, the Houthis’ attacks could reignite historical grievances over the distribution of resources.”
In an attempt to pay off debts and finance public work sector salaries, the Aden branch of the Yemeni central bank has printed new banknotes, increasing inflation in turn. Insurgent-regulated regions do not accept currency printed by the central bank of Aden.
Looking Ahead
The money that Saudi Arabia and the UAE pledged intended to combat these issues, however, it remains unclear as to whether Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen in late February forms part of the $3 billion promise made with the UAE in April 2022.
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and a sub-organization of the 22-member Arab League, the Arab Monetary Fund will help to ensure the correct use of Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen in the form of the $1 million deposit. The financing intends to fund new initiatives to spur economic growth and address poverty in Yemen while “stabilizing the currency.”
A delicate ecosystem, the Arabian Peninsula is crucial in world oil and petroleum exports. Yemen sits at the very tip of the peninsula and Saudi Arabia neighbors it to the north and Oman neighbors it to the northeast. Aid pledged to Yemen is almost sure to have positive effects on Middle Eastern economies and the U.S. as supply chains are symbiotic relationships between countries.
– Stella Tirone
Photo: Flickr
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