Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

What You Should Know: Top 10 Facts About Poverty in China

facts about poverty in China
China is a heavily populated country in East Asia. Since the financial crisis in 2008, China has become the second largest economy in the world and the number one contributor to the world’s overall growth. With the impact China has and its status as a major tourist attraction, many people don’t realize that poverty within the nation’s walls is still quite common.

In as recent as 2015, there were 55 million poor people in rural areas. The World Bank explains that because of China’s fast-growing economy, it has brought on challenges such as high inequality, environmental sustainability issues and poverty. Thankfully, China is aware of these problems and works to eradicate poverty within its walls. With this in mind, here are the top 10 facts about poverty in China.

 

10 Facts About Poverty in China

  1. China has the goal to completely overcome poverty by 2020, which would make the country an overall prosperous society.
  2. Just in 2016, China was able to help put 12.4 rural people above the poverty line. This surpassed their 2016 goal of bringing at least 10 million people out of poverty.
  3. Around 775,000 officials went to villages in the end of 2016 because of a CPC program that hoped to aid poverty relief. This is one of the reasons China’s poverty numbers decreased immensely during this year.
  4. However, towards the end of 2016, China still had 43.35 million people under the poverty line of 2,300 yuan (about $334) in annual income.
  5. Regardless of existing struggles, China brought 55.64 million rural people out of poverty from 2013 to 2016.
  6. Because China has such a large population, officials are worried about population sizes in major cities. Consequently, rural residents are often forced to move to the outskirts of third-tier cities, which often have little infrastructure and a setting that makes it easier for Chinese residents to fall under the poverty line. Additionally, these towns often lack healthcare and education services because there are not enough teachers or medical care workers in these areas.
  7. With so many loans taken out for poverty assistance, Chinese debt in 2000 to 2014 rose from $2.1 trillion to $28.2 trillion. This amount is projected to increase by around 300 percent of GDP by the year 2022.
  8. In 2017, China lifted 12.89 million rural people from poverty which put the poverty rate at 3.1 percent compared to its 4.5 percent the previous year.
  9. Around 500 million people, or 40 percent of the population within China, survive on $5.50 per day or less.
  10. Unfortunately, corruption has emerged within this topic — there have been upwards of 1,800 people investigated for embezzling antipoverty funds and other crimes of the like.

 

A Bright Future

Even though these ten facts about poverty in China demonstrates the improvements necessary to eradicate poverty completely, amazing strides have already been taken by the country itself and the global community at large. Even after these accomplishments, China is not stopping the fight — the nation continues to work towards eliminating poverty completely. Thankfully, poverty in this nation is getting both national and international attention, making it an issue far from being ignored and thus better off for a solution.

– McCall Robinson

Photo: Flickr

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How the US Benefits From Foreign Aid to Libya

U.S. benefits from foreign aid to LibyaDespite showing movement towards democratic values in 2011, when an armed uprising stripped longtime dictator Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi of his hold on the country, Libya’s civil and political rights regressed back to a state of chaos. The country is currently plagued by feuding regimes, organized criminals and factions of the Islamic State all fighting over power in the country. This makes it more important than ever that the United States delivers humanitarian aid to the struggling nation. However, such aid stands to improve conditions not only in Libya; the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Libya as well.

Current Efforts

Currently, the United States is set to deliver $31 million in foreign aid to Libya in 2018. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) estimates that half of this will be spent protecting the country’s weakened representative governing bodies and shifting the country’s values towards those of democratic governance and humanitarianism. The United States hopes to spread these values by working with smaller grassroots movements and entrepreneurs in order to establish a stronger civil society that will hold government officials accountable. The vast majority of the remaining half of the $31 million is aimed at stopping the spread of terrorist cells that pose a threat to Libyan citizens and the United States of America.

Protection from Terrorism

One of the primary reasons the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Libya is national security. By fighting the spread of extremist groups and working to create a robust and peaceful civil society, the United States does more than spread humanitarian values; it also protects itself from future terrorist threats. In stopping the spread of terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in North Africa, the United States is halting the further spread of extremism and, with the development of a strong civil society, making it harder for terrorist groups to establish themselves in the region. Weak and vulnerable communities that are already lacking in civil and political rights tend to serve as prime targets for terrorist groups to infiltrate.

By strengthening these communities with foreign aid, the United States removes opportunities for the further expansion of terrorism and reduces the likelihood of violent insurgencies. In the long run, foreign aid to Libya is an investment in the continued security of the United States, and one of the proven strategies for solving the problem of extremism.

Economic Development

The remaining money that is not spent on fighting extremism and promoting humanitarian values in Libya is dedicated to the further economic development of Libya’s private sector. This is important to establish regional security, as a stronger economy helps build communities and promote a representative and accountable method of governance. Furthering the economic development of Libya also serves to benefit the economy of the United States. A Libyan populace with more spending capital, along with a stronger national GDP and a functioning government, promotes global economic development and provides a new market for exports from the United States, strengthening the U.S. economy and spurring the creation of new jobs.

Helping Others Does Not Hurt the U.S.

Americans often worry that spending money promoting the economic and political development of other countries somehow hurts the U.S. economy and the nation’s own citizens. This thinking is deeply flawed. Research shows the opposite to be true. The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to Libya, as the United States is not only helping Libyans lift themselves out of poverty and political turmoil, but such aid also improves America’s own national security and economic development.  Clearly, continued investment in Libya vital is to future United States efforts at home and around the globe.

– Shane Summers

Photo: Flickr

Credit Access in Mali Needs Further Improvement

credit access in MaliFor many of the poor in developing nations, securing loans is often an unfeasible task. Reforms to credit access in Mali, however, are providing much-needed relief to smallholder farmers endeavoring to improve conditions for themselves and their families.

The Importance of Microfinance in Development

The practice of providing access to financial resources and small loans to those in developing nations, known as microfinance, has become the latest instrument in the effort to alleviate poverty. Too often, the world’s poor are denied access to loans, making it exceedingly difficult to start businesses or make capital investments that would enable them to improve productivity and elevate their incomes. Although microfinance across developing economies has yielded mixed results previously, the capacity remains for well-structured and pragmatically targeted initiatives to succeed.

Credit Access in Mali Denied

When these programs are successful, the implications can be powerful, especially for women and smallholder farmers. In developing economies, women reinvest 90 cents of each dollar they earn into “human resources” like healthcare, nutrition and education, according to a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review. This is substantially more than men and illustrates the impact small investment opportunities can have for the well-being of women and their families.

Despite this, securing loans is harder for women because most do not have property in their names to offer as collateral, typically make lending to them impractical. Furthermore, in Mali, 70 percent of loan applications sought by farmers are rejected because they are deemed risk-prohibitive. Because farmers’ incomes typically fluctuate with seasonal variance in agricultural output, banks are usually hesitant to provide financial backing.

Securing loans is also rare for farmers in Mali because banks focus primarily on commercial lending and often refuse the longer term loans many Malian farmers in the young mango, papaya and cashew nut industries need to get their businesses off the ground. Unstable political institutions in the country, like inconsistent enforcement of contracts, and poorly defined property rights further exacerbate these challenges.

Credit Where Credit is Due

An initiative which began in 2013 is addressing these issues and attempting to increase credit access in Mali. The Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Project by the World Bank seeks to “reduce the risk of investing in agricultural endeavors through technical assistance, new technology and greater knowledge of the supply chain and key actors,” according to World Bank Agribusiness Specialist Yeyande Kasse Sangho.

To provide loans, the program relies on the Innovation and Investment Fund (IIF) and the Guarantee Fund. The IIF offers a three-tiered lending system with each tier providing different levels of subsidies based on the size of the enterprise, with smaller enterprises receiving a greater subsidy. The Guarantee Fund, also financed by the World Bank, offers up to 50 percent of the loan guarantee, giving a needed cushion to the two commercial banks in Mali receiving the deposits.

In addition to this World Bank initiative, Mali sought in 2016 to improve access to credit by improving its credit information system regarding the regulations of credit bureaus in the West African Economic and Monetary Union. In 2017, it established another credit bureau, doubling-down on its resolve to ensure its citizens have access to capital.

With initiatives like these, Mali is demonstrating its commitment to making accessible credit the new normal for its people. Further improvement to credit access in Mali will only serve to assist in lifting more people out of poverty.

– Brendan Wade

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

National Security and Economy: US Benefits from Foreign Aid to China

U.S. benefits from foreign aid to ChinaWhen U.S. citizens are asked to name the percentage of the federal budget they believe is spent on foreign aid and relief, the consensus sits at 31 percent. Only three percent of Americans correctly estimated the federal spending at less than one percent of the total federal budget. Even though its a fraction of the overall budget, the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China.

The Beginning of U.S. Foreign Aid

Secretary of State George Marshall started the first U.S. foreign aid program shortly after World War II. After the war, many countries and cities in Europe were left devastated and needed assistance in rebuilding their infrastructures, charging their economies and stabilizing the affected nations.

Congress realized the stark importance of building an international community of nations where citizens’ security, liberties and right to economic prosperity are sustained by working together. President John F. Kennedy signed the Foreign Assistance Act into law in 1961, embodying the traditional American ideology of humanitarianism. The aim of foreign aid is to reduce:

  • Hunger
  • Poverty
  • Illness
  • Ignorance

Foreign aid fosters relationships with developing countries. The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China, having sent millions over the last several decades. The receiving nation of foreign aid benefits from the resources to advance the quality of life for its people. The U.S. benefits by sharing Western ideology, increasing security and promoting economic interests.

Serving Economic Interests

Investing in another nation’s economy leads to the economic expansion of free markets and encourages global trade. Positively impacting foreign economies provides huge benefits for the American economy as the world moves quickly toward one global economy. Due to U.S. foreign aid to China, China has risen to the second largest economy in the world. This makes China a key contributor to growing and rebalancing the global economy after the financial crisis of 2008. China’s economic interests closely align with the West as it strives to grow its GDP and bring economic opportunity to its people.

In 2017, the U.S. spent $20.2 million on foreign aid to China. The third largest spending category for that foreign aid is in economic development at $2.98 million. The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China are seen through improvements to private sector competition, contribution to free Chinese markets and the global trade economy. U.S. economic interests, markets and trade benefit from these investments in the Chinese markets.

As millions of Chinese citizens move out of poverty and into a growing middle class, companies see emerging markets in the untapped potential consumers of American goods. Boeing is an American aerospace company that has quickly become the largest in design and manufacturing for international commercial jetliners. In recent years, China’s Aviation Supplies Holding Co. has ordered 300 commercial aircrafts to be manufactured and delivered through 2020.

Boosting Security

The economic expansion of free global markets not only improves the American economy, due to the interconnectedness of global markets, but it also works to ensure the growth of stable democracies. The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China through the fostering of long-term relationships with developing nations. In the process, the U.S. creates loyal allies who directly benefit from the interests and social ideologies on individual liberties that lead to the formation of stable democracies.

The presence of stable democracies around the globe prevent dangerous vacuums that can be filled by extremists who do not share American interests and ideologies of individual freedom. In 2010, fifty U.S. generals met with Congress to express the need for increased spending in foreign aid to protect the lives of American troops.

In 2017, China spent more than $700,000 on preventing the development, spread and use of weapons of mass destruction. The relationship between the U.S. and China is necessary for effectively combatting global terrorism. In addition, China consistently sides with the U.S. on foreign issues related to North Korea and Iran. Continually, the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China through U.S. soldiers overseas by working to reduce the threat of harm and to stabilize regions.

Increased growth, development and productivity shows how the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to China, as does the rest of the world. Financial aid works to strengthen international relations while reducing global threats of violence by preventing power vacuums where radical ideologies can take hold. Furthermore, financial aid to China facilitates the spread of American and Western ideologies and empowers the global economy by the growth and spread of free markets.

– Kelilani Johnson

Photo: Flickr

Plans to Improve Sustainable Agriculture in Turkmenistan

Plans to Improve Sustainable Agriculture in Turkmenistan Sustainable agriculture in Turkmenistan has been difficult to implement due to a lack of resources and an effective way of maintaining agricultural plans. Improvements to the country’s agricultural systems are currently being discussed by activists and governments across the globe.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cites lack of management and effective irrigation systems as barriers to the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices. To address these barriers, aid organizations will not only need an effective irrigation plan in a country where, according to USAID, 80 percent of land is classified as desert, but will need to outline a sound managerial plan for maintaining it.

According to Support for Further Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Turkmenistan (SARD III), the European Union has drawn plans for a four-year project. This complex initiative to improve sustainable agriculture in Turkmenistan required presentations in addition to a lengthy outline. In addition to government plans, aid organizations have chosen to address the issue through education and new technology.

Last fall, a partnership between The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Turkmenistan resolved to construct a water pipeline to assist with the issue of sustainable agriculture. According to UNDP, a seminar was given in Ashgabat to outline the plan for the pipeline, explain its success in the past and discuss the importance of daily water conservation practices.

Education about effective agricultural methods has been adopted by other agencies as well. In a statement on the USAID Turkmenistan website, the organization claims to “…prioritize greenhouse horticulture, helping high-value fruit and vegetable growers, processors and marketing specialists connect with local and international markets.” Although the actions and projects by aid organizations as well as plans for improvement are important, aid organizations also emphasize education and explain ways people can make a difference in their everyday lives.

Although activists are doing what they can to address their concerns about sustainable agriculture in Turkmenistan, citizens also consider agriculture a priority and referenced agriculture in a 2015 UNICEF report about goals for the future. Aid organizations and volunteers aim to make sustainability projects a priority and to make sustainability plans a reality.

– Gabriella Evans

Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Timor-Leste Growing According to Strategic Plan

infrastructure in Timor-LesteTimor-Leste is a young nation facing many difficulties, but it is also a nation striving to advance itself daily. One of the areas in which the nation is making strides is in the development of its infrastructure.

On August 30, 1999, the people of current day Timor-Leste voted on whether they wanted to remain part of Indonesia or become an independent nation. Ultimately, 78.5 percent of voters voted for independence. During this time, violence broke out and approximately 70 percent of the infrastructure in Timor-Leste was destroyed.

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste officially became a sovereign nation on May 20, 2002. Since then, the nation has been working to resolve the problems it faces. The damaged and underdeveloped infrastructure in Timor-Leste is one of the major challenges that the country has been working on in recent years.

The government of Timor-Leste created and released a strategic plan that it aims to complete by 2030, which it hopes will improve quality of life, health and education standards. Included in this plan is an entire section on developing the nation’s infrastructure. In this section, plans to improve roadways, bridges, waterways, sanitation techniques, electricity, seaports, airports and telecommunications are laid out.

Recently, the government of Timor-Leste opened the nation’s second airport, the Suai Airport, on June 20, 2017. The opening of this airport was included in the strategic development plan and is an example of one of the many ways the infrastructure of Timor-Leste is being improved upon.

In addition to the opening of the Suai Airport, there are future plans to upgrade Timor-Leste’s other airport, the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport. This airport currently handles around 80,000 to 100,000 passengers each year, but after renovations are completed, the airport should be capable of handling up to one million passengers per year.

Another example of the infrastructural developments being made in Timor-Leste is the road expansion project that the country is undergoing. The World Bank is currently helping to fund Timor-Leste’s road expansion project. In April 2017, a $35.2 million credit was given to Timor-Leste from the World Bank to expand the nation’s transportation project.

This project will make roadways safer for travelers and increase travel opportunities between the northern and southern parts of the country. Having dependable roadways will aid Timor-Leste in developing other aspects of its infrastructure and lead to increased economic opportunity within the nation. These roadways will promote rural development and support the growth of healthcare and education in Timor-Leste.

The development of infrastructure in Timor-Leste is still ongoing, but advances can be seen. The opening of a second airport and the major transportation project are just two examples of the work being done on the infrastructure in the country. The government of Timor-Leste plans to continue to build on these advancements in hopes that a developed infrastructure will improve the standard of living for every one of its citizens.

– Nicole Stout

Photo: Flickr

Increasing Subsistence Yields Key to Sustainable Agriculture in Kiribati

sustainable agriculture in Kiribati

Kiribati is a Pacific coral atoll nation located close to Australia. An atoll is a ring-like island formed by the rim or border of the mouth of a former volcano which is now submerged in water. Atolls are an ideal habitat for colorful coral reefs, but on the other hand, only a small set of crops can flourish here. Hence, the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in Kiribati must be acknowledged.

Kiribati is one of the most impoverished and least developed countries in the world. Here, families largely depend on subsistence agriculture for survival and nutrition. Common crops are coconuts, pandanus, pumpkins, taro, breadfruit, banana, papaya and mango. Most food items are imported from other parts of the world.

Like several other small island nations, Kiribati is critically vulnerable to climate change and global warming. According to the New Yorker, experts believe that at the current pace of rising water levels, “there would be no Kiribati after 30 years”. Kiribati president Anote Tong told the New Yorker in 2013 that “according to the projections, within this century, the water will be higher than the highest point in our lands”.

In 2014, Tong finalized the purchase of a 20-square-kilometer stretch of land on Vanua Levu, one of the larger Fiji islands, 2,000 kilometers away. The move was described by Tong as an “absolute necessity” should the nation be completely submerged.

Developing sustainable agriculture in Kiribati could increase productivity, ensure food and income security, enhance the quality of life and create inclusive and equitable economic growth for everyone. Thankfully, Kiribati has access to financial aid and agricultural expertise. Global organizations and developed nations are offering their powerhouse of knowledge to assist with sustainable economic growth in the country. It receives $36 million in foreign aid, largely from Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.

An agreement signed by Tong and the International Fund for Agricultural Development promises $7 million to promote activities to increase the household production of fruits, vegetables, poultry, root crops and tree crops. The agreement also aims to improve diets through the consumption of a higher proportion of calories and nutrients from local food crops. It will also implement ways to harvest rainwater to increase household water supply.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has designed and implemented several programs for farmer training and soil improvement in the area to enhance the production of coconut and banana. It has slowly and steadily phased out the senile coconut trees that comprised 40 percent of the entire plantation and replaced them with a new rodent-resistant variety.

In addition, by leveraging a novel narrow pit planting system and tissue culture technology, farmers have successfully increased the production of bananas and other fruits and vegetables. In partnership with the Timber and Forestry Training College at Papua New Guinea’s University of Technology, hundreds of farmers have been trained in nursery establishment and management, use of equipment and tissue culture technology, among others.

Needless to say, the future of sustainable agriculture in Kiribati looks hopeful and bright, just like the bright yellow sun rising above the ocean waves on its national flag.

– Himja Sethi

Photo: Flickr

How the US Benefits From Foreign Aid to El Salvador

How the US Benefits From Foreign Aid to El SalvadorEl Salvador made the transition to democracy in 1992 following the end of the civil war. Despite making leaps in social and economic development and achieving free and fair elections, gang-related crime and violence and a lagging economy have significantly impeded El Salvador’s progress. The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to El Salvador through the economy and security.

Immigration

In 2014, the U.S. pledged to invest $277 million in the economy of El Salvador as part of a program called the Millennium Challenge Corporation. This funding was accompanied by a contribution of $88.2 million from El Salvador’s government. The economic investments aimed to develop coastal areas, fight poverty and stem the flow of illegal immigration to the U.S.

The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to El Salvador because increasing economic opportunity for Salvadorians encourages them to stay in the country rather than migrate to the U.S. illegally. Thousands of young Salvadorians attempt to migrate to the U.S. illegally every year due to the rising insecurity and lack of economic opportunity. Economic aid programs like the Millennium Challenge Corporation attempt to stimulate El Salvador’s economy and provides the incentive for young Salvadorians to stay.

Economic Growth

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also provides assistance to El Salvador through the Expand Broad-Based Economic Growth program. The program provides resources to improve local economic development, adopt sustainable agriculture practices and encourage higher education and job training programs.

Economic growth in El Salvador would also open up new markets for the U.S. economy. Thus, the economy of the U.S. benefits from foreign aid to El Salvador when it is progressing and growing.

Gangs

Gangs are also a major problem for the country. El Salvador had the highest homicide rate in the world in 2015.

These gangs were shaped by the decade-long civil war that began in 1980. Leftist groups battling the government materialized as gangs when hundreds of thousands of young Salvadorians fled to Los Angeles, California. They formed gangs to protect themselves from other marginalized minority groups in the city. Many members were deported from the U.S. years later and brought the gangs with them back to their home country.

In order to combat gang-related crime and violence, USAID provides aid and support to the government of El Salvador through the Improved Citizen Security and Rule of Law program. The program provides technical assistance to professionalize and strengthen the Salvadorian civil service and to enhance the public’s confidence in the Salvadorian government.

The U.S. benefits from foreign aid to El Salvador in terms of the economy and security, by providing assistance to strengthen the Salvadorian government and to aid economic development. By stemming the flow of illegal immigrants, the U.S. relieves some of the increasing political pressure domestically to strengthen its borders and curb immigration. By aiding El Salvador’s economic development, the U.S. opens up new potential markets which would, in turn, strengthen the U.S. economy.

– Sydney Lacey

Photo: Flickr

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The World’s Poorest Countries and Why They Suffer

The World's Poorest Countries and Why They SufferAccording to Business Insider, the top ten of the world’s poorest countries are the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Liberia, Niger, Malawi, Mozambique, Guinea, Eritrea and Madagascar. Poverty is directly correlated to a nation’s institutional quality, corruption levels, geography and economic prospects. These sub-Saharan African countries suffer from several factors that keep their citizens well below the poverty line. Why do these nations struggle with poverty?

 

Institutions

The world’s poorest countries struggle to overcome poverty due to a lack of institutions. While many organizations are working to address this issue, there is still a substantial lack of quality institutions in education, agriculture and medicine. When institutions such as schools are created for impoverished people, it reduces the overwhelmingly low literacy rates, which increases opportunities for those facing extreme poverty. Funding the creation of more institutions for developing countries creates opportunities and advantages for impoverished people, which encourages a nation’s industrialization and economic success.

 

Corruption

Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo also made Business Insider’s list of the world’s most corrupt countries. Political instability and corruption create an environment that hinders growth. In the world’s poorest countries, political corruption is common and often discussed with severity, but rarely fought against. A strong governing body is less susceptible to corruption, but many of these nations have weak governance. This corruption, paired with conflict such as terrorism, can prevent an impoverished nation’s upward mobility. A stronger, more powerful government could be the solution for conflict and corruption in developing nations.

 

Geography

The world’s poorest countries are often at the mercy of their geography. Landlocking, poor soil and natural disasters can keep a nation at a disadvantage. When a nation is landlocked, the success of its economy is often correlated to the success of surrounding nations. For example, a landlocked country in Europe, where fewer countries are impoverished, has a better chance at success than a country in sub-Saharan Africa, where many nations are underdeveloped. This is based on the concept and reality of economic growth crossing borders. As well as landlocking, many of these nations experience disasters such as droughts which discourage agricultural success.

 

Economy

Economic growth for the world’s poorest countries is based on myriad factors, some of which are beyond a nation’s control. Many developing countries face the lack of a free market, landlocking and high trade barriers, all of which slow the upward mobility of a nation. Free markets encourage a blossoming economy; therefore, a lack of international trade affects a nation’s GDP substantially.

Trade barriers prevent developing countries from expanding their economic gains because they experience high tariffs on their products, which are commonly textiles and agricultural goods. Trade barriers are costlier for developing countries, even though it is more common for developing nations to export goods to other developing nations rather than industrialized nations. In this common situation, both developing nations suffer. Impoverished nations like Burundi, the third poorest nation in the world, rely on foreign aid from wealthy countries for survival because they struggle with trade.

 

How to Move Forward

Developed nations, which are industrialized, have implemented foreign aid laws and programs which encourage and fund the development of impoverished nations. To remain active and diligent in the support of progress for the world’s poorest nations, encouraging Congress to vote for laws that protect and create foreign aid funds is essential to the progress of these developing nations. Long-term development for economic and social progress starts with developed nations lending a humble hand to those less fortunate.

– Courtney Hambrecht

Photo: Flickr

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Humanitarian Aid to Croatia and Its Children

Humanitarian Aid to Croatia and its Children
SOS Children’s Villages International is providing humanitarian aid to Croatia specifically targeted at children in the context of a struggling economy, high poverty rates and high unemployment levels.

In the wake of the war with the former Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia that lasted from 1991 to 1995, Croatia has struggled to recover from the decimation of its economic infrastructure. The six-year-long recession beginning in 2008 also contributed to Croatia’s weak economic structure.

Unemployment remains relatively high at 16.1 percent. The proportion of the population living at or below the national poverty line is 19.5 percent. The historic economic hardships that contribute to these statistics are clear, but how do these statistics affect the most vulnerable population, Croatia’s children?

Children in Croatia took the hardest hit from the 2008 recession, with child poverty rising over 50 percent. Poverty and unemployment have contributed to an increasing number of children being placed in institutions because families living below the poverty line are unable to feed or care for these children.

Children with mental and physical disabilities, behavioral issues or psychological problems are particularly at risk. Croatia’s infrastructure does not have the specialized centers to adequately accommodate and support these children. Their families are offered very little support and the children are often removed from their families and placed in institutions where they are deprived of the parental support and specialized care that they need. With little support from within local communities, SOS Children’s Villages has stepped in to provide humanitarian aid to Croatia and its children living in poverty.

SOS Children’s Villages International was founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner in response to the proliferation of orphaned children after World War II. Gmeiner’s vision was to provide loving care in a family environment for children that were without parental care for whatever reason, and to help families stay together so they could care for their children. SOS Children’s Villages now operate in 135 countries through the support of donors, child sponsors, partners and friends.

SOS Children’s Villages seeks to provide humanitarian aid to Croatia by supporting local children, young people and families. Children in institutions are placed with loving SOS families to receive essential care, attention and support. SOS provides housing for young people where they can learn to live semi-independently. Families also benefit from kindergartens that will look after their children while they work.

Humanitarian aid to Croatia’s children also extends to children affected by the 2015 refugee crisis, many of whom are alone. SOS Children’s Villages works with local organizations to respond to the evolving needs of children affected by the crisis.

SOS Children’s Village has two locations in Croatia, providing support to children, young people and families throughout the country. Humanitarian aid to Croatia from SOS Children’s Village helps support families and children struggling with poverty.

– Sydney Lacey

Photo: Flickr