On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria that left more than 47,000 dead and more than 80,000 injured, with numbers still expected to keep rising. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake greatly impacted the town of Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria. An aftershock followed that caused almost as much damage as the first and the Middle East region felt it throughout. With a fault line of around 62 miles, the earthquake is one of the deadliest of the last 20 years, thus causing serious damage to buildings and maximum casualties with the Turkey-Syria earthquake occurring early in the morning, when people were still asleep.
The Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
In Turkey, reports have indicated that more than 41,000 died as of early February, with more than 5,800 in Syria. Rescue teams continued searching through the ruins of the nearly 7,000 buildings that have collapsed for survivors more than a week after the earthquake took place in Turkey. Almost no buildings in the cities remained intact, due to the large scale of the impact, with as many as 5.3 million people in Syria losing their homes and experiencing displacement. About 3,000 people managed to find temporary accommodation, with 380,000 seeking shelter in schools and education facilities. The region had not faced a major earthquake in more than 200 years and was vastly unprepared for the disaster.
The biggest worry, however, is for northwestern Syria, where 12 years of conflict has already left 4 million people displaced and heavily reliant on aid and humanitarian assistance. The earthquake caused damage to the Hatay airport in Syria, as well as Bab al-Hawa, the road used to transport aid at the border, which the Turkish government controls. This, among other damaged roads and infrastructure in Southern Turkey, has caused significant delays for shipments and has stalled aid reaching impacted parts of Syria. These delays have already cost thousands of lives, with aid unable to reach survivors pulled out of the rubble, and a lack of resources for those displaced and without basic necessities.
Syrians Displaced and Land Restrictions for Aid
As a country divided due to the 2011 civil war, providing aid for the 5 million already displaced Syrians who live in the opposition-held northern areas has been a complicated matter for the international community. The United States and European nations have refused to send aid to Bashar Assad’s government in Damascus due to sanctions, despite the earthquake. While the majority of Syria is under government control as the conflicting opposition groups hold the north, with Turkey and rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham holding the northwest and the northeast held by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led groups. Naturally, this area of Syria has become heavily reliant on aid.
However, it is very difficult for aid to reach this corner of land due to restrictions that the Syrian government imposed, which also keeps aid from international organizations from reaching there. NGOs outside Syria have been helping these areas, including Idlib, for years, however, since the United Nations coined the term ‘Syria fatigue,’ the level of donations has decreased and the focus of people’s attention has shifted elsewhere, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Caesar Act, a set of U.S. sanctions that originated due to the belief that war profiteers and Syrian officials would keep aid, aimed to discourage human rights abuses in areas of Syria, although some have claimed that it does not target humanitarian assistance. The Syrian government, however, challenged this claim, saying Syrians had to dig “through the rubble by hand, because tools for removing rubble are prohibited for them, and they’re using the simplest, old tools … because they are punished by the Americans, who are blocking them from the needed supplies and equipment.”
Solutions for the Destruction of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Aid for Syria by the international community following the earthquake in Turkey has been minimal, with the Syrian humanitarian response for the year already being “severely underfunded,” according to The International Rescue Committee. The organization requested that the global community promptly boost funding in order to provide the necessary assistance to those impacted by this crisis within a crisis.
According to the American Red Cross, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Turkey and Syria are furnishing hot meals and beverages, transporting necessary blood and plasma to affected areas, and rendering psychosocial assistance to survivors. The Turkish Red Crescent has put into action 77 catering vehicles, five mobile kitchens and nearly 2,000 tents. Additionally, it has dispatched mobile kitchens, more than 1,000 tents and almost 20,000 blankets. Turkey’s Islamic Relief aid organization initiated a $20 million fundraising campaign, cautioning that their inventory of mattresses, blankets and other bedding items was at risk of depleting in a matter of hours.
In a press conference last week, Syrian Arab Red Crescent head Khaled Hboubati urged the U.S. and EU to lift the sanctions in place following the disaster of the Turkey-Syria earthquake as Aid convoys and rescuers from many countries including ally Russia and United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq and Algeria, have touched down into government-held Syria airports. Hboubati claims his group is prepared to provide relief to all areas, including the northern regions that the government in Damascus does not control.
Looking Ahead
Currently, considering the circumstances, Syrians rely heavily on donations and aid from local charities and NGOs. One such charity, Basmeh & Zeitooneh, has been tirelessly working on the ground to provide food, blankets, mattresses and shelter for the people who have lost everything, with further efforts to help actors deal with the debris and rubble littering the areas. While they have successfully managed to help hundreds of people in this dire situation, more work is necessary as the death toll continues to rise.
– Noura Matalqa
Photo: Flickr
Everything to Know About Bird Flu in Ecuador
Ecuador has received a lot of attention for its avian wildlife—in fact, it was studying birds on the Galapagos Islands where Charles Darwin invigorated his theory of evolution. The intertwining relationship between man and nature is evident, raising a cause for concern when an extremely deadly disease enters the animal kingdom. That disease is the bird flu in Ecuador.
About Bird Flu/H5N1
In 2022, Ecuadorians detected a strain of bird flu (H5N1) in local wildlife—and birds were only the beginning of the infected animals. In Peru, a neighboring country, marine life showed symptoms of H5N1—sea lions and dolphins both tested positive for the disease, causing questions about the progression, transition and mutation of H5N1 in Ecuador. Hundreds of thousands of animals, including; birds, foxes, mink and bears, tested positive for the disease. While H5N1 is rare in humans, human infection is possible.
The Way That H5N1 Works
While H5N1 is extremely contagious to birds and other animals, mammal infection is rare. However, Ecuador reported the first case of human infection in January 2023. When a human contracts H5N1 from close proximity to an infected bird, the case fatality rate (CFR) is about 56%. The World Health Organization (WHO) determined this through data from previous bird flu infections from 2003 to 2023. Of 240 confirmed cases during this time period, 135 cases were fatal, as of February 23, 2023.
H5N1 functions by connecting to receptors in an animal’s respiratory system. Humans lack these receptors in their upper respiratory tract, making infection relatively difficult. However, humans can contract the disease in their lower respiratory tract, which can cause severe pneumonia. Poultry workers—mainly slaughterhouse workers and kitchen workers—are at higher risk and must take further precautions to lower the risk of infection.
Ecuador Taking Action
Ecuador started battling H5N1 by culling thousands of birds—180,000 infected farm birds slowed the transmission of the disease, but not by much. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) of Ecuador announced a plan to “vaccinate more than 2 million birds.” Companies in Ecuador and Mexico are preparing three-dose vaccines which will protect birds from H5N1 death. While this Ecuador/Mexico alliance is months from being fully enacted, the push for action on both sides is strong. This partnership is a monumental step in ending bird flu in Ecuador.
Risks in Ecuador’s Future
A vaccine for H5N1 in humans is already available. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), manufacturers already have the information they need to mass produce the vaccine.
Poverty is rampant in Ecuador, making access to health facilities difficult, even though Ecuador’s 2007 health care reform created access to universal health care. This proved an asset during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding health care and creating avenues for vaccinations against COVID-19. These still-in-place avenues will be an asset if Ecuadorians require inoculation against bird flu.
The 2007-2017 expansion of universal health care in Ecuador has been a game-changer, with more Ecuadorians trusting health care and turning toward it when needed. Initially, citizens had reluctance to utilize this health care, with 27% of citizens refraining from utilizing the resource. That number decreased to 18% in 2014 and continued to drop as time moved on, which shows a trend of progress in Ecuadorian health care.
While H5N1 is currently not a direct threat to the health of the human population, human cases of the disease have emerged. While poverty is still great in Ecuador, the COVID-19 pandemic may have created new routes for spreading vaccines which could help slow the bird flu in Ecuador should H5N1 mutate to humans.
– Thomas LaPorte
Photo: Flickr
Organizations Ending Sexual Violence in Africa
Gender-based violence is a worrying problem that affects all of Africa. It is difficult to get accurate data on sexual violence in Africa. It is only possible to access statistics from 18 out of 54 African countries. The latest data, which the African Development Bank (ADB) reported in 2019, indicated that there is a prevalence of sexual violence that varies from 10% to 40%. This is one of the highest compared to the rest of the countries in the world.
Furthermore, after the COVID-19 outbreak, cases started to increase. For example, in East Africa, there was an increase of 48% in gender-based violence, while in South Africa there was a 37% increase, according to Ministries responsible for gender in the regions. The following are nonprofit organizations working to reduce sexual violence in Africa.
Organizations That Are Ending Sexual Violence in Africa
Final Thoughts
Sexual violence is an important issue that affects Africa. Fortunately, there is a process underway to decrease it. The above-mentioned five organizations have the same desire to help and support the victims of sexual abuse and share knowledge in order to prevent such atrocities.
– Elena Luisetto
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Angola Fights Poverty through the Kwenda Social Program
The Kwenda social program is an initiative that the government of Angola launched to address the country’s social and economic challenges. Angola is a resource-rich country, but it has struggled with poverty and inequality for decades. The Kwenda social program aims to reduce poverty and promote social welfare through a range of measures that target vulnerable populations.
Angola’s Economic Struggles
Angola is the largest oil supplier in sub-Saharan Africa. Oil production accounts for about half of Angola’s GDP, more than 70% of the Angolan government’s revenue and more than 90% of Angola’s exports. The health and economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the subsequent drop in oil prices further crippled Angola’s struggling economy and exacerbated poverty levels.
Impressively, Angola’s government took swift action and unraveled the Kwenda social program in response to the economic strain on the population. The premise on which the Angolan government formulated the initiative is poverty relief for the country’s “poorest and most vulnerable.” The program became the first cash transfer initiative to deliver financial assistance through digital deposits. What makes the Kwenda social program unique is that along with its focus on economic relief, it provides human development and economic activities and aims to help 1.6 million families, 60% of whom are female-headed.
In terms of land area, Angola is “one of the largest countries in Africa,” with almost 70% of the population living within cities. However, that also means that a considerable chunk of the population lives in remote areas. Angolans living in these parts of the country face limitations due to debilitated infrastructure and a lack of public transportation.
This presented a significant challenge to the Angolan government during the economic crisis because the government could not easily reach a major portion (about 88%) of the rural population suffering from multidimensional poverty.
Benefits of the Kwenda Social Program
The Kwenda social program addresses the difficulties in reaching rural populations by combining digital tools with physical cash distribution. Furthermore, the Angolan government has established community centers in exceptionally remote communities with community workers to help facilitate physical cash deliveries to the poverty-stricken. These community centers play an integral role in collecting grievances from the local population, administering and implementing the program and providing health and educational services for disadvantaged youth.
One of the segments of the Angolan population that the Kwenda social program has particularly helped is women. This is because women lead many of the households (60%) that the Angolan government aims to help through the program. Another target group of people receiving financial benefits from the Kwenda social program is the elderly population. More than 10,000 elderly people receive cash transfers as a result of the program.
The Angolan government is not the only financier of the initiative. Of the $420 million set aside for the Kwenda social program, the World Bank is funding $320 million. Additionally, in 2022, the World Bank issued a statement of praise regarding the Kwenda social program. In 2021, the initiative completed more than 300,000 digital transfers to beneficiaries. Additionally, by January 2022, the Angolan government had registered more than half a million families into the program. Of those families, nearly half, 247,000, had collected one cash transfer at minimum.
Looking Ahead
The Kwenda social program is a significant initiative that has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations in Angola. The program is based on a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the root causes of poverty and inequality. The program has already had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of households and has helped to promote social inclusion and women’s empowerment. With continued support from the World Bank, the government and other stakeholders, the program has the potential to bring about impactful and lasting change that can build a more inclusive and prosperous social fabric in Angola.
– Aemal Nafis
Photo: Flickr
Efforts to Address Cholera in Africa
Cholera, a disease that has prevailed since the 19th century, is more dominant in some parts of the world than in others. As of 2022, the casualties as a result of cholera in Africa continue. A stronger global response is necessary to properly address cholera in Africa.
7 Facts About Cholera in Africa
Looking Ahead
Addressing cholera in Africa requires greater political commitment and more significant funding. Furthermore, global production of the oral cholera vaccine must be ramped up. It is critical for countries to secure proper water and sanitation systems for communities and establish a disease-preparedness response before outbreaks occur. As communities living in conditions of poverty face higher risks of cholera, leaders must address poverty in order to curb the spread of this disease and others.
– Robin Kalellis
Photo: Flickr
The Persecution of the Baha’i in Iran
The Baha’i faith, Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority, has long been the target of persecution and systematic oppression by the country’s authorities. The Iranian government’s official policy, approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has been to impede the advancement and growth of the Baha’i community through various measures, including expulsion from universities and exclusion from influential positions, particularly in the education sector. Human rights activists, however, are strategizing against the persecution of Baha’i in Iran.
The Glory of God
Baha’u’llah, whose name means, “the Glory of God,” was born in Tehran in 1817. He was a member of Iran’s nobility and could have pursued a government career. However, he chose to follow a newly-formed religious Babi movement led by a prophet known as “the Bab.” This movement called for social reform and advocated for women’s rights. The Bab declared his teachings a divine revelation. He also claimed they foretold the arrival of a new manifestation of God, a belief that caused controversy. In 1850, a firing squad executed the Bab for heresy. Mobs also attacked and killed many of his followers. Despite these dangers, Baha’u’llah continued to follow the teachings of the Bab and eventually became the leader of the Baha’i faith.
Baha’u’llah endured imprisonment and exile throughout his life due to his religious beliefs. When he joined the Babi movement, the government responded by detaining him in an unclean subterranean jail. When they released him, they exiled him to Baghdad where he declared himself as the manifestation of God that the Bab prophesized. Because Baha’u’llah’ gained a significant number of followers, the Ottoman officials banished him to the prison city of Akka in Palestine, where he lived until his death in 1892. Today, Baha’u’llah’s shrine in Israel is a major pilgrimage site for members of the Baha’i faith.
Why the Islamic Republic Persecutes the Baha’i
In Iran, the constitution designates Twelver Shia as the country’s official religion, making it unique among Muslim nations. Despite acknowledging Islam’s legitimacy, the Baha’i feel that their faith supersedes Islam’s doctrines regarding the Twelver Shia messiah. Since the Baha’i believe it is their duty to propagate their religion, that is a fundamental tenet that the Twelver Shia strongly opposes. Persecution of the Baha’i stems from this opposition.
The Iranian regime actively rejects the legitimacy of the Baha’i faith. Khamenei’s official website refers to Baha’i followers as “impure” non-believers and “enemies” of the Shia faith. Khamenei urges his followers to avoid social interaction with the Baha’i and emphasizes the importance of confronting the deceptions of the Baha’i faith. Furthermore, the regime’s efforts to suppress the Baha’i religion go beyond just rhetoric. It prohibits Baha’i from pursuing higher education and excludes them from government employment. In recent years, the Baha’i face more arbitrary arrests as well as increased instances of torture and other forms of mistreatment from authorities and state media.
Continued Persecution of Baha’i
The Iranian regime’s ultimate aim is to force Baha’i followers to leave the country in large numbers. Negative propaganda about the Bahai faith is widely disseminated through Iran’s educational system and media. Additionally, Baha’i followers are not allowed to publicly mourn their dead or establish their own cemeteries.
One recent example of the persecution of Baha’i in Iran is the August 2022 attack on the village of Roshankouh. Government agents raided the village and destroyed six homes that Baha’i residents owned. Reports indicate that the agents confiscated the villagers’ mobile phones to prevent them from documenting the incident. Despite this, some footage of the attack has emerged online, revealing the emotional distress that the villagers experienced, including children and the elderly. Human rights organizations have condemned this attack and called on the Iranian government to end its persecution of the Baha’i community.
Activists Push Back Against the Persecution
Recent social media posts have condemned the destruction of Baha’i homes in a village near Sari, Iran. Iranians have used the platform to argue that the regime’s official reasons for the destruction of homes, such as “encroachment on public land,” are just excuses for the persecution of Baha’i. They have also shared images of fatwas and rulings by Shia jurists, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, against the Baha’i faith and the Baha’is, describing them as “inhumane” and “fascistic.”
According to Iranian human rights activist, Musa Barzin Khalifelou, there may be little recourse through the legal system. However, Khalifelou has suggested that Iranians living abroad can play a significant role in stopping the oppression of the Baha’i community in Iran. One way to do this is by informing international organizations and filing complaints with them. Additionally, Khalifelou believes that the principle of “Universal Jurisdiction” could be effective in prosecuting those responsible for the persecution of Baha’i. This principle allows for certain crimes such as torture, crimes against humanity and war crimes to be prosecuted in other countries. Since the Iranian government aims to eliminate the Baha’i community, this principle could lead to the arrest and trial of those responsible for giving the orders and their agents. Through such actions, Khalifelou argues that Iranians abroad can help bring an end to the persecution of Baha’i in Iran.
– Noura Matalqa
Photo: Flickr
5 Organizations Empowering DRC Women
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a country in Central Africa that is rich in resources but still remains incredibly poor. A severe food crisis stems from government instability. In addition, violent armed groups often launch attacks and assaults on women and children. Luckily, there are several organizations empowering DRC women. This article takes a look at five of those organizations.
Severe Conditions for DRC Women
In 2018, more than 35% of women between the ages of 15-49 years reported being sexually or physically abused by an intimate partner. Further, almost 30% of girls under the age of 18 have been married or forced into a union. Finally, 70% of both women and men face food insecurity as well.
Here are five organizations that are combating these severe conditions and are actively empowering DRC women.
Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation is an international organization that has been empowering DRC women since 2009. It calculates that 60% of women in the DRC live below the poverty line and have extremely low levels of political participation. The organization works to gain respect for women’s rights and end discriminatory gender practices. Kvinna till Kvinna helps women participate in learning exchanges that provide education and economic empowerment. It also helps finance certain activities of the Rien Sans les Femmes (Nothing Without Women) movement, a collaboration of Congolese women’s rights activists.
By supporting smaller partner organizations in the DRC, Kvinna till Kvinna has definitively lowered gender-based violence against women and has boosted political participation for DRC women. For example, the partner organization AFEM (Association des Femmes des Médias du Sud Kivu) is a collaboration of female journalists. It uses a radio station, Mama Radio, as its platform to empower DRC women. Mama Radio caught on and AFEM was able to report reduced violence against women.
AFEM coordinator Julienne Baseke noted, “Thanks to Mama Radio, we have been able to break the silence on sexual violence, people are better informed and sexual and reproductive health issues are no longer taboo. The authorities are also held accountable on sexual violence issues and the media are mobilized on violence issues.”
Women for Women International
Women for Women International empowers DRC women in numerous ways. Since 2004 it has supported more than 106,000 Congolese women. Its most recent impact evaluation reports increased access to credit, savings and assets. Second, it reports an increase in women’s ability to pursue entrepreneurship. Finally, it shares that women are benefitting from improved diets and mental health access. In 2022, 256 women received advocacy training in land titling. It also expanded upon its health insurance projects which were able to reduce fees for women and their families by around 50%.
Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)
WPHF is an international organization that helps empower grassroots organizations to help women become more involved in political affairs. In the DRC, it works with Spotlight Initiative, another women’s rights organization to fund 30 projects that 51 women’s organizations in the DRC spearheaded. These organizations seek to eliminate violence against women and encourage political mobility for women. For example, WPHF supports our GRACE, which seeks to promote gender-based equality and peace in North Kivu. It also supports CAUSE RURALE, which focuses on providing humanitarian aid to reinforce stronger institutions for women. Finally, WPHF supports AFPDE, in South Kivu and promotes the strength of women’s organizations.
Women Concern (WOCO)
This Congolese nonprofit has been empowering women in the DRC by focusing on women and girls in rural areas. It focuses on helping women and girls see their own potential and provide them with development opportunities. Its unique approach is to utilize men and boys to be partners and co-agents to ensure change. It believes that promoting positive masculinity will in turn create a safe environment for women and girls to seek out opportunities. Its ultimate goal is to end the ongoing cycle of violence against women in the DRC.
Women, Cradle of Abundance
Women, Cradle of Abundance is a DRC organization. It has been empowering women in the DRC by attempting the eliminate systemic poverty for women. The organization provides physical safety, medical care, counseling and community services for women. It also helps improve education for women and girls by supporting schools for disadvantaged children. Women, Cradle of Abundance provides women with micro-savings and microloans. For example, it has provided 199 microloans to Kinshasha women. This helped them start or expand their businesses.
Moving Forward
Between international organizations such as Kvinna till Kvinna, Women for Women International and WPHF as well as DRC organizations such as WOCO and Women, Cradle of Abundance, a lot has been accomplished to empower DRC women. Past and current successes pave the way for more positive change.
– Anna Richardson
Photo: Flickr
Planning The Future of Ukraine
The future is often war’s largest casualty. For some 8,000 Ukrainian civilians and 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have fought to preserve their homeland, the future no longer exists. Nearly 14 million civilians are now disconnected from their homes. The future of Ukraine stands on a knife’s edge; however, a year after Russia’s invasion, there is at least a future to discuss. Moreover, there is a growing consensus that Ukraine’s recovery requires planning right now.
Economic Devastation
On February 23, 2023, the United Nations called for an immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. Although Putin, known for his violations of international law, will almost certainly ignore the resolution, it does beg the question of what a post-war Ukraine would look like. As a result of the war, a third of the country lives in poverty, with another 60% at risk of falling into poverty should the conflict continue. The war has destroyed $100 billion of infrastructure and forced 50% of businesses to close.
Marshall Plan for Ukraine?
Given this financial and physical devastation, one may wonder exactly what the future of Ukraine is. Participants during the Davos 2023 Summit discussed that rebuilding the country would require a recovery program comparable only to the Marshall Plan after World War II. With that plan, the United States contributed the equivalent of almost $200 billion to western Europe in aid. A Marshall Plan for Ukraine would cost three times as much as the original and would have to overcome the hesitancy of nations like the U.S. to further involve themselves in the country.
Estimates for Recovery
In September 2022, the World Bank, the European Commission and the Ukrainian government place the recovery estimate at $349 billion, of which around $100 billion is needed for short-term recovery. This includes financing the rebuilding of hospitals, schools, roads and bridges. It also consists of the clearing mines that prevent the cultivation of Ukraine’s fertile soil. In a separate communication a few months earlier, Ukrainian President Zelensky declared the target figure at $750 billion, citing the need for repatriation, humanitarian assistance and modernization.
Commitment to Providing Aid
Although allies are shying away from direct military assistance, international aid is crucial in keeping Ukraine afloat. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) leads the charge, which provided $12 billion in 2022 and plans to augment that support in 2023. This aid goes primarily to health care workers and educators, protecting the future of Ukraine in the short and long term. Additionally, the World Bank provided more than $18 billion in grants and loans for Ukraine as of February 2023, the vast majority of which comes from the United States.
Supporting Ukraine: In the Best Interest for Europe and Beyond
The future of Ukraine remains incredibly uncertain. However, a consensus is emerging that the situation cannot remain fraught when the war comes to an end. A weakened or failed Ukraine is a security threat to Europe and would create a refugee crisis because Ukrainian refugees would have no need to return to their country. As the Financial Times wrote in December 2022, “The potential geopolitical cost of failure is high…The fighting continues, but the time to plan for peace is now.”
– Samuel Bowles
Photo: Flickr
Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Diseases
The recent global health crisis, triggered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought to the forefront the importance of efforts to prevent the spread of diseases. While treatment is crucial, proactive steps to reduce the risk of disease transmission are equally important. Disease prevention plays a critical role in promoting public health, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Gavi’s Work to Prevent the Spread of Diseases
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership that is committed to improving access to life-saving vaccines in low-income countries with the aim to prevent the spread of diseases. The partnership has played a critical role in reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide by providing funding, technical support and vaccines to increase access to immunization programs in the world’s poorest countries.
Gavi has assisted in the vaccination of more than 981 million children, which will prevent at least 16.2 million disease-related child mortalities at minimum. Its efforts have also resulted in the successful introduction of new vaccines in low-income countries, including the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines.
The Global Fund’s Efforts
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is another public-private partnership committed to reducing the incidence of these three deadly diseases, increasing access to treatment and care and improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. It has played a critical role in preventing the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS by providing funding to support HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services.
In 2021 alone, the Global Fund provided HIV-preventative services to 12.5 million at-risk individuals and helped to provide about 670,000 HIV-positive mothers with treatment to sustain themselves and prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in HIV/AIDS-related deaths worldwide.
The Global Fund has also played a crucial role in expanding access to TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, contributing to a decline in TB-related deaths worldwide. In addition, the Global Fund has supported the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, indoor spraying and other preventative measures to reduce the incidence of malaria, resulting in a significant reduction in malaria-related deaths worldwide.
Positive Impacts
The impact of these global health initiatives in preventing the spread of diseases worldwide is reflected in the significant progress made in reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. These partnerships have saved more than 50 million lives and significantly reduced the number of new infections and deaths linked to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Contributions to the fight against these deadly diseases have not only significantly reduced the number of new infections and deaths but also strengthened the health systems of low and middle-income countries to better cope with disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
Prevention is Key
Disease transmission is a significant public health challenge, with prevention being the key, and everyone from individuals to communities and governments has an important role to play in proactively addressing the issue.
Practicing good hygiene, obtaining vaccinations and accessing health care for the early detection and treatment of illnesses are all essential strategies in preventing the spread of disease. Good hygiene, such as hand washing and avoiding contact with sick individuals, is a basic yet effective way to reduce the risk of infection. Vaccination is critical in building immunity against various diseases and protecting vulnerable populations. Early detection and treatment of illnesses can reduce the severity of the illness and the risk of transmission to others.
It is also important to ensure that vulnerable and marginalized communities have access to prevention, treatment and care services. Strengthening the leadership, engagement and capacity of community-led organizations and networks can improve service continuity between community-led activities and formal health care provision. The Global Fund’s Community Engagement Strategic Initiative and community-led monitoring efforts work toward achieving these goals.
In conclusion, investing in preventative measures and global partnerships is critical in reducing the incidence of preventable diseases and saving lives.
– Nkechi First
Photo: Flickr
The Devastating Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria that left more than 47,000 dead and more than 80,000 injured, with numbers still expected to keep rising. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake greatly impacted the town of Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria. An aftershock followed that caused almost as much damage as the first and the Middle East region felt it throughout. With a fault line of around 62 miles, the earthquake is one of the deadliest of the last 20 years, thus causing serious damage to buildings and maximum casualties with the Turkey-Syria earthquake occurring early in the morning, when people were still asleep.
The Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
In Turkey, reports have indicated that more than 41,000 died as of early February, with more than 5,800 in Syria. Rescue teams continued searching through the ruins of the nearly 7,000 buildings that have collapsed for survivors more than a week after the earthquake took place in Turkey. Almost no buildings in the cities remained intact, due to the large scale of the impact, with as many as 5.3 million people in Syria losing their homes and experiencing displacement. About 3,000 people managed to find temporary accommodation, with 380,000 seeking shelter in schools and education facilities. The region had not faced a major earthquake in more than 200 years and was vastly unprepared for the disaster.
The biggest worry, however, is for northwestern Syria, where 12 years of conflict has already left 4 million people displaced and heavily reliant on aid and humanitarian assistance. The earthquake caused damage to the Hatay airport in Syria, as well as Bab al-Hawa, the road used to transport aid at the border, which the Turkish government controls. This, among other damaged roads and infrastructure in Southern Turkey, has caused significant delays for shipments and has stalled aid reaching impacted parts of Syria. These delays have already cost thousands of lives, with aid unable to reach survivors pulled out of the rubble, and a lack of resources for those displaced and without basic necessities.
Syrians Displaced and Land Restrictions for Aid
As a country divided due to the 2011 civil war, providing aid for the 5 million already displaced Syrians who live in the opposition-held northern areas has been a complicated matter for the international community. The United States and European nations have refused to send aid to Bashar Assad’s government in Damascus due to sanctions, despite the earthquake. While the majority of Syria is under government control as the conflicting opposition groups hold the north, with Turkey and rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham holding the northwest and the northeast held by U.S.-backed Kurdish-led groups. Naturally, this area of Syria has become heavily reliant on aid.
However, it is very difficult for aid to reach this corner of land due to restrictions that the Syrian government imposed, which also keeps aid from international organizations from reaching there. NGOs outside Syria have been helping these areas, including Idlib, for years, however, since the United Nations coined the term ‘Syria fatigue,’ the level of donations has decreased and the focus of people’s attention has shifted elsewhere, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Caesar Act, a set of U.S. sanctions that originated due to the belief that war profiteers and Syrian officials would keep aid, aimed to discourage human rights abuses in areas of Syria, although some have claimed that it does not target humanitarian assistance. The Syrian government, however, challenged this claim, saying Syrians had to dig “through the rubble by hand, because tools for removing rubble are prohibited for them, and they’re using the simplest, old tools … because they are punished by the Americans, who are blocking them from the needed supplies and equipment.”
Solutions for the Destruction of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Aid for Syria by the international community following the earthquake in Turkey has been minimal, with the Syrian humanitarian response for the year already being “severely underfunded,” according to The International Rescue Committee. The organization requested that the global community promptly boost funding in order to provide the necessary assistance to those impacted by this crisis within a crisis.
According to the American Red Cross, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Turkey and Syria are furnishing hot meals and beverages, transporting necessary blood and plasma to affected areas, and rendering psychosocial assistance to survivors. The Turkish Red Crescent has put into action 77 catering vehicles, five mobile kitchens and nearly 2,000 tents. Additionally, it has dispatched mobile kitchens, more than 1,000 tents and almost 20,000 blankets. Turkey’s Islamic Relief aid organization initiated a $20 million fundraising campaign, cautioning that their inventory of mattresses, blankets and other bedding items was at risk of depleting in a matter of hours.
In a press conference last week, Syrian Arab Red Crescent head Khaled Hboubati urged the U.S. and EU to lift the sanctions in place following the disaster of the Turkey-Syria earthquake as Aid convoys and rescuers from many countries including ally Russia and United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq and Algeria, have touched down into government-held Syria airports. Hboubati claims his group is prepared to provide relief to all areas, including the northern regions that the government in Damascus does not control.
Looking Ahead
Currently, considering the circumstances, Syrians rely heavily on donations and aid from local charities and NGOs. One such charity, Basmeh & Zeitooneh, has been tirelessly working on the ground to provide food, blankets, mattresses and shelter for the people who have lost everything, with further efforts to help actors deal with the debris and rubble littering the areas. While they have successfully managed to help hundreds of people in this dire situation, more work is necessary as the death toll continues to rise.
– Noura Matalqa
Photo: Flickr
Waterborne Diseases Impacting Pakistan
The country of Pakistan is currently the fifth most populous nation in the world, with almost 225 million inhabitants. Due to the number of people living in the country, Pakistan is at a greater risk of experiencing devastation from the effects of changing weather patterns. Events such as the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the floods of 2010 and 2022 have had disastrous effects on the nation’s health policies. The country is also experiencing economic and food crises. This further exasperates the effects of diseases impacting Pakistan. Currently, many organizations, such as the British Red Cross, are categorizing waterborne diseases as a health emergency in Pakistan. These include cholera, typhoid, dysentery and hepatitis A, which are largely spread due to unsafe water and poor sanitation conditions.
The 2022 Floods of Pakistan
The recent floods in the summer of 2022 were disastrous for Pakistan. The floods have severely affected Pakistan’s agriculture, which makes up a big chunk of their exports and food supply, thereby threatening to cause a major public health disaster. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 8 million people are currently in need of health assistance as they are at grave risk from the many diseases impacting Pakistan. WHO also estimates that almost 10% of health facilities experienced damage, hindering the public health system’s ability to target the health crises. This is a grave issue as before the floods, Pakistan was already suffering from health crises. It had the second-highest amount of Hepatitis C cases. More than 35% of children under five are stunted.
In the areas that the floods affected the most, such as Sindh and Baluchistan, there has been a spike in disease outbreaks. In certain areas, the cases of malaria doubled. There was also a rise in outbreaks of dengue and acute water diarrhea. Another issue of concern is the cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), which already had a calamitous number before the floods in both Sindh and Baluchistan. Cases of SAM are on the rise to alarming numbers.
Immunization Disrupted
Another major issue that the floods caused is the effect it has had on the public health system’s ability to effectively tackle some of these disease outbreaks. The floods have disrupted many immunization programs, such as the nationwide polio vaccination program. Pakistan is currently one of the only two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world. Furthermore, the flood has also had major ramifications for the programme on immunization (EPI) surveillance efforts and the treatment of chronic diseases, such as tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).
Organizations Working Toward a Better Future
Although the health crises in the country are a concern, global organizations are helping to lead the fight against many of these waterborne diseases. The Pakistan Red Cross has mobile health facilities in many of the affected areas as they attempt to treat flood victims. Furthermore, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are also working alongside the WHO to increase the surveillance of some of the major diseases impacting Pakistan, such as acute diarrhea and cholera.
– Saad Haque
Photo: Flickr