Africa is the second-largest continent with a population of 1.4 million as of 2022, making it the second most populated continent. Africa has an extreme poverty line of 46% in rural areas and 9% in urban areas, with an equal split of poverty between males and females from 30 to 31%, leaving 431 million people living in poverty. In 2022, torrential floods hit many regions in Africa and in the KwaZulu-Natal area, 398 people were reported dead with 27 still missing. The heavy rain destroyed many homes, leaving thousands of people homeless, sinking cargo containers and ruined soil, leaving many farmers without work and families without food during winter.
Factors of Torrential Floods
The National Weather Service (NWS) does not formally recognize torrential rain as a weather term. Instead, ThoughtCo described it as “rain that is especially heavy.” Heavy downpours are classified as rainfall with a rate of 0.3 inches or more per hour that occurs when the moisture in the air mass is larger than its own size. For example, when your sink is plugged, the water will eventually overflow if not turned off, but if it’s unplugged, the water can never outweigh the sink and is held. One can usually catch torrential rain on weather radars and weather services will give different levels of warning if the rain is dangerous enough not to resume daily life as it can cause runoffs, flooding and mudslides.
The Impact of Torrential Floods in Africa
Recent torrential floods have impacted Africa’s farms, including huts, crops and livestock, especially in West and Central Africa. In more than 12 countries, 4 million people have lost a substantial number of crops due to torrential floods in 2022, where many farmers not only supply stock for other people but also rely on their farms for their own use. Six million hectares of farmland are underwater, where the soil has lost its properties to continue growing healthy crops.
With the current season’s harvest ruined by torrential floods, many farmers worry about the future of their farms. Many farmers travel long periods of time to reach their farms, trying to save what they can to survive this season and the rest of the year. While some have managed to save enough for a month, families will become famished over the winter and it is unlikely that the soil will be able to produce healthy crops until after the new year in 2023. The chairman of the Associations of Sorghum Producers, Processors and Marketing for the northeastern Borno state, Goni Alhaji Adam, stated that the floods are “the worst he had seen in two decades,” Al Jazeera reports.
Besides the impact of torrential floods in Africa, other things also had a hand to play in the destruction of farms. Due to conflict in the Sahel region, almost 8 million people faced displacement, many of whom were farmers that could not tend to their land due to the pandemic, according to Al Jazeera. 8% of displaced citizens were agropastoral farmers, meaning they take care of agriculture and livestock simultaneously. Also, with the drought and the Ukraine-Russian war, fertilizer supplies dropped significantly, meaning farmers could not produce as many crops.
Looking Ahead
In order to achieve better nutrition and reach their goals by 2030, Africa is asking for collaboration from multiple countries around the world to help in any way they can. Those who cannot afford farm or crop management need support with food security, nutrition and health, cleaner water and education to prepare for the winter and next year. To achieve SDG 2, the agrifood system also needs support. For example, stakeholders need to “transition to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems” to ensure stronger and healthier production and nutrition to provide a safer environment and a better quality of life.
Africa was making an improvement in food security, however, from 2019 to 2020, Africa was not on track and had seen a dangerous increase in malnourishment that reached 89.1 million people. Where the torrential floods have impacted Africa, 26.7% of food insecure people are from the West and 20.3% are from Central Africa, some of the higher rates compared to the rest of Africa, according to FAO report.
Before the impact of torrential floods, the pandemic, draught and the Ukraine-Russian war, Africa already faced a food security issue. In Nigeria, in two regions, floods have destroyed 30% of maize crops. The president of Nigeria’s Maize Growers and Processors Association, Edwin Chigozie Uche, have started the process of analyzing soil and its nutrients where the floods have subsided to determine when farmers can continue farming, Al Jazeera reports. Though, a significant number of farmers are small-scale and cannot afford soil fertility tests and other farm management methods. Due to this, it is unlikely they will be able to farm the following year without help.
Another bid to lessen the impact of torrential floods in Africa that the army, police and volunteer rescuers use to distribute clean water and soon deploy water tankers. The government has provided 1 billion rands ($58 million) in emergency relief funding. More than 4,000 police officers are supporting relief efforts and keeping citizens safe and orderly due to reports of theft, The Guardian reports. The South African weather service has announced future storms and flooding that could enable citizens to prepare.
– Deanna Barratt
Photo: Flickr
The Fight Against Period Poverty in Ukraine
An Overview of Period Poverty
Period poverty threatens a woman’s physical health by increasing her risk of severe infection. Without access to hygienic care, women often resort to using leaves or dirty rags, increasing their susceptibility to urinary tract infections and bacterial vaginosis. Moreover, the effects of period poverty on women’s mental health are calamitous: women without sustained access to menstrual care are more likely to report moderate to severe depression. Not only do Ukrainian women lack the financial resources to afford period care, but the availability of period products has decreased since the start of the war.
To alleviate women from period poverty in Ukraine and the existing physical and mental trauma of the war, several organizations have launched initiatives to help internally displaced Ukrainians.
Zero Waste Lviv’s Efforts Against Period Poverty
Zero Waste Lviv, a Ukrainian organization, has partnered with organizations to promote reusable menstrual products’ use and access. Superior to their single-use alternatives, Zero Waste Lviv believes providing reusable products will help ameliorate the issue of period poverty in Ukraine by reducing the overall cost and effort associated with distributing single-use products.
The city of Lviv has housed 200,000 displaced Ukrainians since the start of the war and remains a region with many individuals in need of aid. Partnering with foreign organizations including Hungary’s Zoldovezet Torsulos and Zero Waste Croatia, Zero Waste Lviv has distributed reusable menstrual products such as menstrual cups, reusable cups, reusable pads, and menstrual underwear to women of Lviv.
Moreover, through its partnership with Hungarian Greenzone Association, Zero Waste Lviv organized a series of online and in-person information sessions in which gynecologists and other experts provide a thorough education about the use and benefits of reusable menstrual products.
A U.S.-Based Approach
Outside of Ukraine, organizations based in the U.S. are also partaking in the fight against period poverty in Ukraine. One example is the organization, I Support the Girls (ISTG). Founder Dana Marlowe was compelled to launch the organization after observing, “some disaster relief agencies still do not see menstrual products as a necessity, despite us knowing the opposite to be true.” Today, ISTG is “sending thousands of period products, new bras, and underwear to Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia for Ukrainian refugees.”
Marlowe is also focused on raising awareness for period poverty and hopes that awareness generated during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict can promote broader efforts in the fight against period poverty. Marlowe says, “often we see when folks are talking about periods in reference to a crisis, like this Ukraine war, they will open their mind to other local and global issues around menstrual equity.”
– Alisa Gulyansky
Photo: Flickr
Promoting Virtual Education in Peru
“It feels new, well, very new, but we are adapting to the situation,” said the Peruvian child when the CGTN America reporter asked him about his experience with Peru’s I Learn at Home virtual education program. For a country in which only 24% of households have consistent internet access, virtual education is certainly a new experience. Peru launched the Aprendo en Casa (I Learn at Home) program shortly after the Peruvian government closed down schools in 2020 in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ever since the program has consolidated various low and high-tech solutions to broadcast an interactive learning environment on multiple media. Here is the story of Peru’s Ministry of Education’s promotion of virtual education in Peru.
Pandemic Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic hits hard around the globe and Peru is one of the worst-impacted countries in the world. In response to the pandemic, the Peruvian government imposed the strictest shutdown in South America since March 2020. However, the shutdown, compounded with Peru’s low connectivity, imposed a particularly harsh challenge.
Among the many challenges is the challenge in education. Under the shutdown, switching to virtual learning was not as simple as moving classes online. In response to Peru’s particular challenges, Peru’s Ministry of Education launched the I Learn at Home virtual learning program shortly after the lockdown, according to OECD.
In response to the sudden COVID-19 shutdown, the Ministry of Education launched the program with equal rapidity only 12 days after the shutdown, OECD reported. To ensure the constant improvement of the program, Peru’s Ministry of Education collaborated with Innovation for Poverty Action which uses machine learning to survey the needs of hard-to-reach students. The Ministry then used this data to develop the program to ensure maximum outreach and maximum classroom engagement, in the shortest possible timeline.
About I Learn at Home
To ensure the maximum outreach of the program in low connectivity regions, Peru’s Ministry of Education strives to diversify the channel of access to learning materials. According to OECD, the Peruvian government teams up with major private telecommunications companies to produce and broadcast the learning materials on TV and radio, in addition to the internet.
To maximize internet travel to the I Learn at Home webpage, Microsoft and Amazon help design the web page with “web-light” and “mobile-responsive” technologies so that people can access the webpage through smartphones and from areas with slower internet. For parts of the country that lack household electricity access, loudspeakers at community centers broadcast learning materials so kids can hear their teacher giving lectures in their homes.
Through the multi-media platform, the virtual classroom brought children back to an interactive learning environment. Teachers and actors go back and forth on the learning materials with actors asking questions during classes and doing learning activities making it look like a classroom. According to OECD, WhatsApp helps organize teachers and parents into classroom groupings. Teachers distribute homework materials either online or through mailing in print materials. Teachers and families then communicate feedback through those channels.
The Impact of Virtual Education in Peru
The result of Peru’s Ministry of Education’s promotion of virtual education in Peru is significant. OECD has indicated that after a month of the debut of the I Learn at Home initiative, 95% of children reconnected to their education through one channel or another and that another month after that, 82% of the kids expressed happiness about the learning program. According to UNICEF, the innovative joint initiative reached 145,628 children living in hard-to-reach areas. As Peru reopened its schools in March 2022, its precious experience in virtual education showcases how innovation and technology can help education to reach those who are at a material disadvantage.
– Peiyi Yu
Photo: Flickr
Malian Military Junta Bans NGOs Supported by France
Mali recently decided to ban all non-governmental organizations operating with funds or support from France. The decision came in response to France’s announcement to “suspend[]its official development assistance to Mali.” France cited the Malian junta’s alleged use of “the Russian paramilitary group Wagner” to combat jihadism as the reason for this disassociation. Wagner has a reputation for brutality, standing accused of such crimes as rape, abuse of human rights and massacres. The Malian military junta has denied accusations of using Wagner, with Colonel Maiga condemning the allegations as “fanciful allegations” and “subterfuge,” Africa News reported.
Despite the denial of these allegations, tensions have ratcheted and the Malian military junta has chosen to ban all NGOs related to France including organizations focused on providing humanitarian aid. France, similarly, has not accepted Mali’s denial and views the alleged participation of the Russian Wagner group as a “collaboration between the two countries.”
Effects of Aid Loss in Mali
The removal of aid could prove devastating for Mali, which has faced a variety of crises including extreme poverty, the spread of jihadism and massive civilian displacement. For instance, Action Against Hunger reported that, in Mali, almost 70% of the population lives in poverty. Worsening conditions related to conflict and recent droughts have led to many children suffering from severe malnutrition.
Many French NGOs are working in Mali on issues related to food security, health and access to education and French military aid withdrew in August 2022. Germany also made the decision to pull out of Mali and while the Malian military junta has appeared unconcerned, Souleymane Camara, president of the Malian human rights organization LNDH, has claimed, “The withdrawal of the forces of countries that came to help contain the advance of the Jihadists is very worrying because Mali does not have the means to deal with the situation.”
The Malian military junta’s vice president, Fousseynou Ouattara remarked that Mali is against “permanently expanding a foreign military presence on our territory.” However, Mali’s relationship with Germany has been much less tumultuous, with Germany electing to leave some troops in place in anticipation of the February elections and Mali and parliamentary secretary of Mali’s transitional government, Amadou Maiga, has expressed gratitude to Germany and voiced an interest in resuming their alliance in the future, stating, “I think that the cooperation will continue on other levels, like development and security. We thank them and we will face our destiny,” DW reported.
History of Tensions
Tensions with France are not a new conflict in Mali, which has a history that French interventionism has broadly defined. France colonized Mali in 1890, making it French Sudan. The conflict between France and Mali has continued to define the region, as France colonized various regions of West Africa, often with a complete lack of concern for the “local ethnic, religious and cultural dynamics” and “the political and cultural ecologies of the regions…” While this has led to internal conflict, France has also been guilty of more modern atrocities, such as supporting the Algerian government’s “repression of the democratic transition that began in 1988.”
This decision ultimately resulted in the formation of the Islamic Salvation Front which then took power as an oppressive and authoritarian regime with western backing. France also voiced support for Tunisian dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2012, which lead to fallout and increased violence that endangered West Africa, according to Al Jazeera.
Potential Solutions
This history has made it difficult for Mali to conceptualize France’s presence as anything other than antagonistic, as it has seen the nation interfere with democracy in the past. One could broadly describe Mali’s military junta’s unease with French aid as a result of France’s own making in relation to this history of recent failures. This situation makes it particularly difficult to remedy, as Mali’s military junta is resistant to western aid. However, many France-dependent NGOs are advocating for their ability to work in Mali. CCFD Terre-Solidaire, Handicap International, Médecins du Monde and Oxfam have penned a letter to French President, Emmanuel Macron, claiming that ending aid in Mali would lead to “the cessation of essential, even vital activities (…) for the benefit of populations in situations of great fragility or poverty,” Africa News reported.
Despite fears of rising jihadism, Mali also remains hopeful, as Amadou Maiga claims military withdrawal from the west will “require a reorganization of our troops and maybe a little more logistics”, adding, “But we’ll deal with it. We’ve been expecting this,” according to DW. Hopefully, Mali can reroute its aid relations to nations with whom they have less tumultuous histories and defend against jihadist attacks in the meantime. Also, stabilization could possibly be restored after the German-supervised February 2024 elections.
– Braden Hampton
Photo: Flickr
Zan Times: A Platform for Afghan Women’s Voices
The foundation of the journalistic outlet Zan Times stands on a specific objective: Giving Afghan women their voices back through a new media platform. This recently released platform covers the human rights situation in Afghanistan through “a women’s-led newsroom” as one of its main focuses is women’s rights. On October 20, 2022, Zahra Nader introduced herself as the editor-in-chief of Zan Times and spoke at the U.N. to discuss the struggle Afghan women and girls face every day under the new Taliban rule. She also highlighted “why women’s representation—in peacebuilding, in journalism and everywhere else—matters,” U.N. Women reported.
Since the occupation of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021, the situation for women and girls in the country has deteriorated, leading to more inequality and poverty. In a May 2022 statement, Sima Bahous, the U.N. Women executive director, said, “Current restrictions on women’s employment have been estimated to result in an immediate economic loss of up to $1[billion] – or up to 5% of Afghanistan’s GDP.”
The Background
Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city, fell to the reign of the Taliban on August 15, 2021. The new regime has led to a regression in “[women’s] rights, their condition and their social and political status” due to restrictions on women’s mobility, access to education, employment and other economic resources and rights, according to a press briefing by Alison Davidian, country representative a.i. for U.N. Women in Afghanistan.
“Before 15 August 2021, 17% of women participated in the labor force nationwide; this decreased by 16% by the end of October 2021,” U.N. Women reported.
The exclusion of women from areas of life such as education and employment harms a country’s economic development. Over the past five decades, rising levels of educational attainment have stood as a driving factor behind the economic expansion of OECD countries. Furthermore, “women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity [and] increases economic diversification [as well as] income equality,” according to U.N. Women.
Zahra Nader
Zahra Nader is an Afghan-Canadian journalist and editor-in-chief of the Zan Times. After starting her journalistic career in 2011 in Kabul, she moved to Canada six years later to pursue higher education and is now studying toward a doctoral degree in feminist studies.
“Today, an estimated 20 million women and girls who grew up in Afghanistan going to school, to work, who grew up being able to go where they liked and to speak their minds, are, under the Taliban, deprived of these fundamental human rights because of their gender. Women have been ordered to stay home. Girls have been banned from attending school above sixth grade,” said Nader in October 2022 at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security.
A New Hope
Zan Times is a media platform that aims to provide a different view on human rights violations by focusing on the perspective of those resisting rather than those committing the violations and collecting the work of journalists, writers and activists. Apart from Afghan women, the Zan Times also focuses on other marginalized groups, such as sexual minorities and particular ethnic groups. By documenting the experiences of these individuals, Zan Times ensures the world hears the voices of the marginalized.
For instance, the platform’s reporters write about the experience and commentary of female activists resisting the Taliban regime. In August 2022, the reporters had the opportunity to interview Robaba (the pseudonym that the interviewee uses), who, before the return of the Taliban, worked as the “editor-in-chief of a newspaper and owned an art gallery in Balkh province.” She shared her experience opposing the new restrictive government.
This approach allows readers from everywhere in the world to identify and understand the struggle while also giving voice to those who the Taliban silenced. Zan Times also allows activists to share their initiatives to raise awareness of current events in Afghanistan. For example, Zan Times interviewed British-Iranian producer Ramita Navai who recently released Afghanistan Undercover, a documentary showing an undercover investigation into the Taliban’s repression of women in Afghanistan.
Looking Ahead
Giving Afghan women a platform to voice their experiences is a powerful initiative. Girls and women in Afghanistan are currently facing a difficult reality. Even though the future of Afghanistan is uncertain, the work of Nader and other reporters dedicated to raising awareness and offering opportunities for women to speak their truth provides hope to Afghan women.
– Caterina Rossi
Photo: Flickr
How AI Technology is Helping Developing Nations
AI technology is all around and many use it without even knowing it. However, many people in developing countries cannot access this technology without help. WorldData has reported that there are 152 developing countries worldwide, with a population of 6.69 billion. The entirety of Central and South America and Africa are developing nations, along with the majority of Asia and other island states. About 9% of the global population is living in extreme poverty, earning less than $1.90 per day, and living below the higher poverty line. More than 20% earn less than $3.20 per day and more than 40% earn less than $5.50.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is basically coding and software that help people in daily life. While people know it best for its role in science and medicine, it also has a role in the productive robots in factories, the voice recognition in smartphones, the software that detects online viruses and the drones that deliver packages and help farmers. While there is no official definition for AI, it is typically a man-made machine that does things humans cannot do in a timely manner or at all. The term “artificial intelligence” or “AI” was created in 1956 at a conference in New Hampshire, the United States, but AI machines existed before that.
How is AI Technology Helping Developing Nations?
Agriculture. AI technology supports many different aspects of agriculture, particularly in Africa. It helps farmers take care of their crops by detecting when is the best time to plant and harvest. It can also help detect when crops are sick. For example, mCrops is a form of AI that helps diagnose crop diseases in Uganda. Additionally, another AI that is helpful in agriculture is drones that spray pesticides on sick plants. However, they can also spray water and help plant new crops in the healthiest parts of the ground. An example of this is Aerobotics, which works in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Education. AI technology can help developing nations, especially in rural areas, with education because it is effective for illiteracy, coursework and general school subjects, and can alleviate the short supply of teachers and supplies using tutoring technology. Sites like Dapito, Eneza Education and Tutorful help people connect around the world. For example, they teach English to non-English speakers, customizing content and lessons for a specific student. Students in developing nations are intelligent, but they lack qualified teachers and are sometimes unable to travel to school. For example, travel might not be available when there are floods and when they are sick, especially when many schools are far away.
Recognition. This method of AI includes location and supports many fields, such as health care, natural disasters, deliveries and shipments, and more, generally by the use of drones. An earthquake hit Nepal in 2015 where the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) used AI in relief to locate damage from social media posts, mobile devices, satellites and multiple other devices. Currently, the World Wildlife Fund uses drones in Kenya to arrest wildlife poachers, and UNICEF is building a machine to detect malnutrition using facial recognition.
AI Technology and Health Care
AI technology is helping globally, especially in rural countries in Africa. It is constantly undergoing development for health care but relies on the government, NGOs and medical professionals to authorize machines for medical use and support. AI can diagnose patients, recommend treatments and discover global viruses. For those living in rural and developing nations, AI is lifesaving as it can locate injured people which a normal navigation or GPS system cannot do, and send medicine and medical supplies via drones. It also provides qualified doctors to countries with a lack of medical professionals and to those who need a second opinion on diagnoses, treatment and surgery. This reduces costs, manual labor and mortality rates and develops education in health care and literacy.
In 2022, the University of West Scotland developed new AI technology that enables lung diseases to be identified faster with an accuracy of 98%, meaning diseases are less likely to spread and more people will be correctly diagnosed before a disease progresses and can receive treatment. Further research has found that it can detect COVID-19 cases. This technology is especially useful in developing nations during winter periods especially and globally in general. This will not replace human labor but will support hospitals. This AI technology cuts short the long wait and use of CT scans, blood tests, x-rays and ultrasounds, cutting down further costs and time taken to identify disease and illness.
– Deanna Barratt
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
How Libraries Can Improve Literacy in Africa
The literacy rate in Africa is estimated to be about 70%. Although this is the total continental average, literacy rates vary widely among countries within the continent. For instance, Niger’s literacy rate stands at a mere 19%. Other African countries like Guinea and South Sudan rank low as well, with their literacy rates in the low 30s. However, there are organizations promoting libraries in African schools and communities to increase literacy rates in the continent.
The Importance of Libraries
Libraries all across the globe strive to bring communities together. By definition, a library is a public place that seeks to provide education to all individuals as well as aid in self-development. They often provide many volunteer opportunities and allow people to unite as one. Libraries in general offer a vast amount of resources to the public. These information resources provide knowledge that contributes to a well-informed society. They provide a multitude of learning opportunities to people of all classes. Most people who find themselves in low-income situations lack the resources that they need to receive an education and hence, can benefit from library services. Libraries are built on the foundation of solidarity and are able to increase literacy rates by providing access to free books and resources to schools and communities.
The Importance of Libraries in Africa
Africa is home to the poorest countries in the world, with sub-Saharan having one of the lowest literacy rates. However, African organizations are building libraries and contributing to the continent’s literacy development. The African Library Project in particular is an organization that partners with several African-based programs that work to build libraries throughout African communities. With its goal to promote literacy and library development in Africa, the project sends a set number of books to newly built libraries by initiating book drives and gathering donations. In doing so, they also frequently follow up to ensure that the libraries are running sufficiently. The organization has established 190 libraries in Kenya and 587 libraries in Malawi as well as in other countries across Africa.
In March 2022, South Africa dedicated a week-long South African Library Week to promote awareness of the importance of building libraries across South Africa. With this year’s theme being “Reimagine! Repurpose! ReDiscover…Libraries!” the South African communities had placed a significant value of attention on re-evaluating the state of the current libraries in South Africa.
AfLIA’s Influence on the Growing Sector
Organizations like the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) are also actively promoting this movement. The AfLIA is a nonprofit organization that also works to advance the lives of people in Africa through the services offered by libraries. There has been an ongoing collaboration between AfLIA and OER Africa. They promote libraries as spaces for communities to learn and share information.
Dr. Nkem Osuigwe at AfLIA described the importance of libraries in communities by stating, “This little library could get news from the radio, TV, newspapers, but also books. They knew when and where it was going to rain, the cost of seedlings, and how to get better produce. They were passing this information down to members of the community.” AfLIA also spearheads advocacy in the interest of libraries, library workers and the communities they serve in Africa. The leader of the AfLIA, Mr. Alim Garga, recently traveled to Gabon to discuss the development of libraries being built in Africa. He was able to join AfLIA with the Gabonese library in his contribution to boosting the library and information sector in Central Africa.
Libraries are Beneficial to All
The libraries that are undergoing construction across Africa cover only a small percentage of the globe. The building of libraries would prove to be beneficial in communities around the world. This is especially true in poverty-induced communities where both resources and services are scarce. Africa is just one of the many continents that have benefited from the infrastructures of libraries. With an increased awareness of libraries, poverty-stricken countries all over the world can have access to many opportunities.
– Madison Stivala
Photo: Flickr
How the Recent Earthquake in Afghanistan is Exacerbating Poverty
In June 2022, the citizens of Khōst, Afghanistan faced the aftermath of a 5.9-magnitude earthquake. The tragedy that claimed more than 1,000 lives is responsible for the annihilation of hundreds of houses, increased poverty in Afghanistan and the need for aid to support Afghanistan’s already large homeless population.
Poverty in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is infamous for having some of the most brutal poverty in the world, with many families living in houses solely made out of mud. Anthony Pantlitz, an immigrant from Guyana, compared the poverty in Afghanistan to “living in the 17th century” because of their lack of basic necessities such as electricity, plumbing and water.
In 2020, nearly half of the population of Afghanistan was living below the national poverty line. During this year, the mortality rate for children under 5 years old was 58 out of every 1,000. Many Afghan citizens have very low expectations for an improvement of the country’s economy, with 87% reporting a struggle to make enough money to upkeep their household. It is estimated that 95% of the people in Afghanistan suffer from consistent monetary issues and are frequently unable to purchase food.
The Earthquake’s Effects
The earthquake in Afghanistan created even more difficult living conditions for the country’s poverty-stricken citizens. These neighborhoods, already treated as outcasts, note that their future looks grim based on their treatment prior to the disaster. The citizens say that many outside countries have come to their aid with short-lived items, like food and tents, but have not done much more to help them rebuild their now-destroyed region.
UNHCR
UNHCR has prepared to build earthquake-resilient houses in Afghanistan. Funded with $14 million, the project is able to provide the cost of not only the supplies for the homes but around $700 to give each family in order to cover the payment for builders’ labor. With this budget, they will begin to construct over 2,300 homes, 2,000 in Paktika and 300 in Khōst. The houses will be earthquake-resilient and “winterized,” built in order to withstand the grueling winter weather.
UNHCR is also increasing various types of aid for poverty in Afghanistan. The agency, acting on an “emergency response,” has provided water, shelter, heat and much more to families in danger. A very important issue to the UNHCR is providing these items during the winter months, as many families have no more than a blanket to survive the freezing temperatures; the agency has provided “blankets, stoves, solar lanterns, insulation kits and support for heating, clothing and vital household supplies.”
However, UNHCR still urges others to help. A single organization cannot fight an entire crisis on its own, especially because the company estimates that Afghanistan needs around $8 billion to fund its humanitarian plan. With this budget, UNHCR will be able to send out emergency items at a much more rapid pace. UNHCR accepts donations towards decreasing the number of citizens who fall into poverty in Afghanistan.
– Aspen Oblewski
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Impact of Torrential Floods in Africa
Factors of Torrential Floods
The National Weather Service (NWS) does not formally recognize torrential rain as a weather term. Instead, ThoughtCo described it as “rain that is especially heavy.” Heavy downpours are classified as rainfall with a rate of 0.3 inches or more per hour that occurs when the moisture in the air mass is larger than its own size. For example, when your sink is plugged, the water will eventually overflow if not turned off, but if it’s unplugged, the water can never outweigh the sink and is held. One can usually catch torrential rain on weather radars and weather services will give different levels of warning if the rain is dangerous enough not to resume daily life as it can cause runoffs, flooding and mudslides.
The Impact of Torrential Floods in Africa
Recent torrential floods have impacted Africa’s farms, including huts, crops and livestock, especially in West and Central Africa. In more than 12 countries, 4 million people have lost a substantial number of crops due to torrential floods in 2022, where many farmers not only supply stock for other people but also rely on their farms for their own use. Six million hectares of farmland are underwater, where the soil has lost its properties to continue growing healthy crops.
With the current season’s harvest ruined by torrential floods, many farmers worry about the future of their farms. Many farmers travel long periods of time to reach their farms, trying to save what they can to survive this season and the rest of the year. While some have managed to save enough for a month, families will become famished over the winter and it is unlikely that the soil will be able to produce healthy crops until after the new year in 2023. The chairman of the Associations of Sorghum Producers, Processors and Marketing for the northeastern Borno state, Goni Alhaji Adam, stated that the floods are “the worst he had seen in two decades,” Al Jazeera reports.
Besides the impact of torrential floods in Africa, other things also had a hand to play in the destruction of farms. Due to conflict in the Sahel region, almost 8 million people faced displacement, many of whom were farmers that could not tend to their land due to the pandemic, according to Al Jazeera. 8% of displaced citizens were agropastoral farmers, meaning they take care of agriculture and livestock simultaneously. Also, with the drought and the Ukraine-Russian war, fertilizer supplies dropped significantly, meaning farmers could not produce as many crops.
Looking Ahead
In order to achieve better nutrition and reach their goals by 2030, Africa is asking for collaboration from multiple countries around the world to help in any way they can. Those who cannot afford farm or crop management need support with food security, nutrition and health, cleaner water and education to prepare for the winter and next year. To achieve SDG 2, the agrifood system also needs support. For example, stakeholders need to “transition to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems” to ensure stronger and healthier production and nutrition to provide a safer environment and a better quality of life.
Africa was making an improvement in food security, however, from 2019 to 2020, Africa was not on track and had seen a dangerous increase in malnourishment that reached 89.1 million people. Where the torrential floods have impacted Africa, 26.7% of food insecure people are from the West and 20.3% are from Central Africa, some of the higher rates compared to the rest of Africa, according to FAO report.
Before the impact of torrential floods, the pandemic, draught and the Ukraine-Russian war, Africa already faced a food security issue. In Nigeria, in two regions, floods have destroyed 30% of maize crops. The president of Nigeria’s Maize Growers and Processors Association, Edwin Chigozie Uche, have started the process of analyzing soil and its nutrients where the floods have subsided to determine when farmers can continue farming, Al Jazeera reports. Though, a significant number of farmers are small-scale and cannot afford soil fertility tests and other farm management methods. Due to this, it is unlikely they will be able to farm the following year without help.
Another bid to lessen the impact of torrential floods in Africa that the army, police and volunteer rescuers use to distribute clean water and soon deploy water tankers. The government has provided 1 billion rands ($58 million) in emergency relief funding. More than 4,000 police officers are supporting relief efforts and keeping citizens safe and orderly due to reports of theft, The Guardian reports. The South African weather service has announced future storms and flooding that could enable citizens to prepare.
– Deanna Barratt
Photo: Flickr
4 Neglected Tropical Diseases Eliminated in Togo
Efforts to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases in Togo
Togo eradicated four diseases within 11 years; from 2011 to 2022. It eliminated dracunculiasis (guinea worm disease) in 2011, elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) in 2017, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in 2020 and trachoma in May 2022. The Togolese Ministry of Health has been working with Health and Development International and USAID to end these diseases. Effective measures included:
Additionally, many partnerships and funding have contributed to the success of Togo’s control and elimination of these NTDs. USAID has provided funding for more than nine years through Health & Development International (HDI) and assistance from Family Health International (FHI360). Some other donors are the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Mectizan Donation Program, Sightsavers, The Task Force for Global Health, UNICEF and WHO. The U.S. also provides additional support by enacting a bill called “End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act,” in 2019. This piece of legislation ensures further aid and research efforts to End NTDs in the most vulnerable places across the globe.
Positive Impact on Poverty Reduction
The elimination of these four NTDs indicates significant progress toward healthier life not only for the Togolese but for the poor in the world. Most of NTDs involve considerable suffering and disability. They prevent children from going to school and adults from being able to work. Then the cycle of poverty never ends.
For example, guinea worm disease which usually causes pain and blisters in people’s legs has a long recovery period after surgery. Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic infection, transmitted via bites of an infected mosquito. It affects human lymphatic vessels and causes severe swelling of arms, legs and scrotum. This makes a person unable to ambulate or join church due to disfigurement. If someone is infected with trachoma, they are at risk for vision loss. Repeated infection can severely scar the inside of the eyelid and result in constant pain and light intolerance. If people do not receive treatment, it leads to blindness. Now, the poor, including the Togolese, have more hope to live without going through the pain, stigma, social isolation and disability caused by these diseases.
Final Thoughts
It is exciting that Togo becomes the first country in the world to eliminate four Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). This achievement not only improves the well-being of citizens across the country but also lightens the burden on public health. Still, there are other NTDs that pose significant health risks in Togo and other low-income countries. A few of the diseases are onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Hopefully, with Togo’s continued effort to tackle NTDS, coupled with support from international agencies like USAID, these diseases can also be eliminated sooner rather than later.
– Naomi Kang
Photo: Flickr
Bulgarian Protesters Fighting for Raised Minimum Wages
In mid-November 2022, Bulgarian protesters took to the streets outside the Balkan country’s Parliament building to fight for a livable minimum wage. Increasing inflation sparked the movement, and fears of minimum wage freezes prompted Bulgaria’s two largest employee unions to begin protests calling for raises in the minimum wage. The protests started right before winter because many are experiencing energy poverty and cannot afford to heat homes. Without an increase in the minimum wage, Bulgaria could have thousands, if not millions of its citizens, drop into energy poverty and lose its stance in the “eurozone.”
Bulgarian Minimum Wage
Bulgarian protesters are tackling the issue of minimum wage outside the Parliament building because the minimum wage is crushing the lower classes. Bulgaria has one of the lowest minimum wages in Europe. Bulgaria’s minimum wage is not keeping pace with the continuously-rising inflation, as inflation has effectively outpaced the national wage increases. The minimum wage stands at BGN710 or €362 per month. However, despite the pay increases, due to the amount of taxes taken out of most minimum wage earners’ pay, they only take home about €281.
By 2020, the poverty rate in Bulgaria reached 22.1%. The updated figures show the actual number of Bulgarians in poverty is likely much higher. About 35% of Bulgarians are considered the “working poor,” according to Radio Bulgaria. To be “working poor” one must have a job, work 27+ weeks a year, in the labor force, but still fall below the poverty line. The term “working poor in Bulgaria refers to those supporting themselves on minimum wage.
Bulgaria’s working poor have no way out of their poor status as long as the minimum wage remains as low as it is. With the inadequate pay, many Bulgarians fear the costs of living, specifically energy costs, might increase and force them into “energy poverty.”
Bulgaria’s Energy Poverty
Energy poverty is the lack of access to modern energy sources and services. It is one of the main causes of Bulgarian protesters taking to the capital. Energy poverty is one of the dominant challenges the Bulgarian government has faced since the Parliamentary and presidential election of 2021, as it is one of the poorest energy nations in Europe. In 2020, 27.5% of Bulgarian homes did not have adequate heating and 22.2% of Bulgarian homeowners and property renters were late or in debt due to overwhelming energy bills.
Bulgaria depends on Russia for 75% of its gas, making it one of the nations most reliant on Russian gas. The European Union held off on implementing the same bans on Russian oil that the U.S. did, but Russia slashed its gas exports and EU members scramble to seek alternate natural gas providers. The oil pipeline transporting Russian gas and oil to Eastern European nations, including Bulgaria, will remain open but with limited quantities. The minimal gas imports are likely to cause gas prices to soar again. Prices have been fluctuating wildly. The EU is in talks to set a cap on Russian gas prices, which the EU will decide on by December 5, 2022.
Until the EU sets that cap, though, Bulgarians dependent on Russian gas while only earning minimum wage will continue to struggle. Fears of living in energy poverty are motivating Bulgarian protesters as they head into the region’s coldest months of the year.
Protests and Their Implications
Bulgarian protesters are led by the nation’s top two labor unions. Bulgaria’s labor unions are a force to be reckoned with and are responsible for a significant number of Bulgaria’s workforce. Around 15% to 17% of Bulgaria’s workforce is involved with labor unions. Nationwide, there are two dominant labor unions, with countless smaller unions covering various employees and their protective needs.
Bulgaria is a member of the EU and is on its way to being a member of the “eurozone.” To be a member of the zone, one must meet four critical criteria: price stability, sustainable public finances, an inflation rate that is not more than 1.5 percentage points higher than the rate of the three best-performing member states, and exchange-rate stability. Bulgaria met the criteria required to join the eurozone, which should go into effect on January 1, 2024. However, with inflation continuing to rise and a lackluster minimum wage impacting the economy, Bulgaria could lose its spot in the eurozone.
Bulgarian protesters are calling for Parliament to raise the minimum wage before an economic freeze takes hold, Al Jazeera reports. Should a freeze happen, the minimum wage will remain low in the current inflation crisis, and the government will lose its spot in the eurozone. Without an increased minimum wage, Bulgaria’s economy will not have the proper structure to lift its poor citizens out of their financial danger.
Ending poverty for Bulgarians is possible, especially if the government raises the minimum wage, and the efforts to reach this goal earned the attention of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). Bulgaria joined in November 2021, a recent but significant change. The IDA has granted $458 billion to 114 countries through grants with 0% interest. The funds go to programs that decrease poverty and improve the economic status of a nation. Joining the IDA is symbolic of Bulgaria’s progress away from the title of “developing.” Bulgaria’s economy is improving, but inflation and a lower minimum wage could halt any potential improvements. With the IDA’s assistance and a raised minimum wage, Bulgaria has a phenomenal chance of securing those better futures.
– Clara Mulvihill
Photo: Flickr