Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Cyclone Freddy: 3 Organizations Aiding Africa After the Devastation

Cyclone FreddyCyclone Freddy hit Mozambique on March 11 and broke the record for the longest tropical cyclone, lasting five weeks and two days. The torrential downpour and high winds affected other parts of Africa around Northeast Zimbabwe, Southeast Zambia and Malawi.

The cyclone caused dangerous flash flooding that destroyed land, homes and powerlines, according to the World Meteorology Organization.

UNICEF says that the already impoverished communities of Malawi and Mozambique are facing even more health adversities after the cyclone. Citizens do not have access to clean water or adequate health and sanitation systems. As a result, Malawi children are at higher risk of cholera and disease.

Aside from health and sanitation resources, affected people also need new infrastructure, after the destruction of many hospitals and living spaces.

Three Organizations Aiding the Victims Recovering From Cyclone Freddy

  1. United Methodist Church: According to its website, the United Methodist Church aims to “Promote Health and Wholeness,” combating diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. It also provides “health education, advocacy and infrastructure.” After Cyclone Freddy, the UMC worked with Boto Andre, the head of the village and deputy mayor in Antananarivo, Madagascar, to give a grant that provided months of food for about 150 families. It also granted Mozambique and Malawi emergency rations and hygiene resources.
  2. Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope is a nonprofit organization striving to feed the hungry and bring help to communities in need. In the past, it provided meal education in Madagascar, fed malnourished citizens during a drought in Kenya and held food fairs in Nicaragua. After the cyclone, Convoy of Hope gave 19,000 meals to survivors and is currently working on gathering the resources in high demand, such as menstrual products and clothing. It has also distributed water filters and hygiene kits to the community.
  3. Global Giving: Global Giving’s mission statement is “We help fellow nonprofits access the funding, tools, training and support they need to serve their communities.” This nonprofit organization aids in disaster relief as well as educating citizens willing to help communities in need. Global Giving is currently aiming to raise $500,000 for the Cyclone Freddy relief fund. The donations will serve to provide food and medical supplies, along with rebuilding efforts and support recovery. On the ground, Global Giving is providing victims with water, blankets, buckets and plastic sheets. The organization also pays close attention to the long-term effects of the cyclone; the team is prepared to build strong, weather-resistant houses.

Malawi and Mozambique were already at high risk for cholera, and that risk has only risen since the Cyclone. Adding to health concerns, around a fifth of Malawi’s population was already facing food insecurity, and after Freddy, which destroyed 297,000 acres of farmland, that number is bound to increase, according to AP news.

In the aftermath of such extreme devastation, aid and support are the only way forward. These three organizations are just a few out of many global aid agencies assisting the survivors of Cyclone Freddy.

– Alex Hasenkamp
Photo: Flickr

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The Impacts of the Ongoing War in Yemen

War in YemenThe war in Yemen began in 2014 when Shiite rebels linked to Iran took control of the largest city and the capital of Yemen, Sana’a. During this period, rebels demanded lower fuel prices as well as a new government. They also seized the presidential palace after failed negotiations and ​​President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi resigned along with his government. The rebels have gained significant territory and the civil war continues to this day. The citizens of Yemen have been directly affected by the fighting for almost 10 years. And for more than a decade, the basic human needs of the population of Yemen have not been met.

In 2023, the United Nations (U.N.) estimated that 24.1 million people in Yemen are at risk of hunger and around 14 million Yemenis are in need of acute assistance. Poverty has worsened in recent years, affecting approximately 71% to 78% of the Yemeni population.

The Water Crisis

Yemen is facing one of the most severe water crises globally, as reported by USAID. Basic human necessities, including water and sanitation, are not reaching the Yemeni people due to the ongoing war in the country.

Since 2018, USAID has taken significant steps to address this crisis, aiding over 1.5 million Yemenis lacking access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Through these efforts, 505,000 Yemenis now have access to clean sewage systems and handwashing facilities, improving sanitary conditions. Additionally, USAID’s education initiatives have made a substantial impact, benefiting the people of Yemen in need. The organization has successfully increased access to clean water for 650,000 Yemenis since 2018.

Access to Health Care

The ongoing war in Yemen has had a significant impact on the health care system. According to the World Bank, only 50% of health facilities are completely functional and more than 80% of the population in Yemen has significant trouble accessing basic health care.

Organizations like Doctors Without Borders play a crucial role in providing health care services to the Yemeni people. The organization’s website displays its efforts to improve the quality of life for those in Yemen. Doctors Without Borders runs a mother-and-child hospital in Yemen. This hospital was established in 2016 and is located in Taiz Houban. It offers a wide variety of services, including trauma care, neonatal care and therapeutic feeding.

For people living in conflict-riddled countries, the mental health impacts are severe due to the ongoing trauma, violence and struggle for survival. For this reason, Doctors Without Borders established a mental health clinic located in Al-Jomhouri Authority Hospital where the team provides mental health services, including counseling.

Malnutrition

Children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition due to the civil war. In 2022, UNICEF reported that 2.2 million children in this age group are facing acute malnutrition, along with 1.3 million pregnant individuals. According to the U.N., 7 million people are food insecure in Yemen, with 17 million people needing humanitarian assistance.

Doctors Without Borders noticed an increase in malnutrition cases in its hospitals in Amran governorate since May of 2022. With the availability of clinics and hospitals, there may be ways to combat malnutrition, especially in children.

Food insecurity levels in Yemen have worsened, with an increase from 31,000 to 161,000 people facing extreme hunger. Rising food prices and the inability to afford nutritious items have contributed to the crisis. In 2022, flour increased by 38%, canned beans increased by 38% and eggs increased by 35%. These price increases have made it very difficult for many people in Yemen to afford food.

Looking Forward

The Yemeni population still faces dire consequences from the ongoing war, including malnutrition, limited access to clean water, and deteriorating mental health. The U.N. stresses the urgent requirement for aid as the conflict endures. Humanitarian access and donor cooperation remain crucial in supporting Yemen’s people. In April 2023, China played a role in mediating talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia to seek a political resolution and bring an end to the conflict. These discussions include plans to reopen embassies and restore diplomatic relations.

– Abigail DiCarlo
Photo: Unsplash

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3 Nonprofits Helping Turkey and Syria’s Recovery

Turkey and Syria's RecoveryOn February 6, 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria. In the early morning, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the region, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake later in the afternoon, further impacting southern Turkey. Current reports rank these earthquakes among history’s deadliest, resulting in a death toll of 55,000 and leaving 100,000 with injuries. Now, both Turkey and Syria are in need of significant humanitarian assistance to aid in their reconstruction and recovery efforts.

Continuing the devastation, March brought on heavy rainfall and flooding within areas affected by the earthquake according to USAID. An estimated 3 million people are experiencing displacement in Turkey, as reported by USAID in June 2023.

Further damage from such environmental shocks has strained the stability of shelter centers and water supply for millions. According to the UN and USAID, 1.6 million people in Turkey are now residing in “informal temporary settlements” with inadequate treatment infrastructure.

GlobalGiving

This charity organization, based in Washington D.C. since 2002, has raised almost $7 million in five months for its Turkey and Syria earthquake relief fund, which is public for online donations. GlobalGiving has made two rounds of 12 emergency grants to its nonprofit partners in response to the earthquake.

According to the organization’s website, donations initially went toward directly supplying “immediate needs” of fuel, water, food, medication and shelter; however, the organization later directed the fund toward aiding local organizations leading rehabilitation initiatives throughout the region. Other efforts and aid for earthquake survivors on the website include mental health support, economic relief and temporary housing from GlobalGiving’s donations.

Having provided relief programs and emergency aid to disasters since 2004, GlobalGiving relief funds have been mentioned by NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post and the U.S. State Department. GlobalGiving currently maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 100 out of 100 for accountability and transparency.

Direct Relief

Financial assistance from Direct Relief’s donations has been facilitating emergency responses, transportation and the supply of oxygen concentrators, field medic packs and other necessary supplies. At least $2.6 million has gone to organizations servicing emergency responses, and a three-month update reports that a total of $14 million has been raised and donated by 48,826 Direct Relief contributors including businesses, foundations and individuals.

For Turkey and Syria’s recovery from the earthquake and aftershocks, Direct Relief provided support with medical, financial and informational assistance as it aided the Ministry of Health in Turkey and several local organizations. Its website states that “longstanding relationships” with groups active in Syria for many years have helped channel generous aid efforts.

Additionally, over the past three months, Direct Relief has supplied three charter flights that delivered medical aid containing diabetes medications, antibiotics, water purification supplies, prenatal vitamins and more medical goods. The Syrian American Medical Society, Syrian Relief and Development and the Independent Doctors Association have all received medical supplies from Direct Relief donations, according to their website.

Syrian American Medical Society Foundation (SAMS)

A global medical and relief organization, SAMS is a nonprofit that was established in 1998 by Syrian-American physicians. SAMS has presently raised $2.2 million of a $2.5 million goal from 9,986 donors. Medical personnel have cared for patients of all ages as SAMS aims to include “extensive follow-up medical care and rehabilitation” for survivors, as reported on its website.

Despite facing displacement due to the earthquake, the 2,400 staff members of SAMS continued to work tirelessly, providing urgent medical care and delivering supplies to their clinics and hospitals. As per the organization’s website, at least four SAMS medical facilities suffered damage, leaving three of them out of service. Despite the challenges, SAMS has supported 36 medical clinics in the affected regions of northwest Syria.

This non-religious and non-political organization has carried out heroic work, including rescuing a newborn baby from the rubble and treating a three-month-old with a fractured skull. The dedicated SAMS medical team has provided treatment to more than 2,000 earthquake victims since the beginning of the disaster.

– Lucy Cosme Vera
Photo: Flickr

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USAID Programs in Indonesia

USAID Programs in IndonesiaUSAID’s enduring partnership with Indonesia, established in 1950, encompasses a wide range of initiatives, from cocoa and coffee bean production to digital training sessions. The Government of Indonesia (GOI) has identified four priority areas for USAID’s support, which are “effective democratic governance strengthened,” “inclusive economic growth increased,” “environmental sustainability improved,” and “priority health outcomes improved.” Through three recent USAID programs in Indonesia, both nations reaffirm their dedication to these objectives as they strive towards self-reliance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Strengthening Democracy

Among the USAID programs in Indonesia that aim to strengthen their democracy, is the Indonesia Civil Society Forum (ICSF). In 2023, the fourth annual ICSF ran from June 14 through June 15. The USAID-MADANI Project, a project that spans 32 Indonesian districts and cities and strives to keep the government accountable and bolster civil service organizations (CSOs), primarily organized the forum. The importance of CSOs and citizen involvement to maintain a thriving democracy cannot be understated as democracy positively impacts poverty. According to the World Bank, 9.5% of the Indonesian population lived under the national poverty line in March 2022.

While citizen support for Indonesia’s democratic government remains strong, it is not immune to challenges such as increasing social intolerance regarding religion or politics, misinformation and the changing role of CSOs. ICSF allows Indonesia’s civil society leaders to convene and discuss how to tackle these issues. The forum was especially relevant this year with the impending 2024 presidential election.

Coffee and Sustainability

In line with Indonesia’s goals of economic growth and improving environmental sustainability, USAID launched the Landscape Approach to Sustainable and Climate Change Resilient Cocoa and Coffee Agroforestry (LASCARCOCO). The initiative is in partnership with Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), Rikolto, Hershey’s and the Indonesian government. It involves a $8.2 million investment in Indonesia’s coca and coffee industry and the training of 6,500 farmers in North Sumatra, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara; districts where coca and coffee production has been on a sharp decline due to climate change.

Farmers will receive training in sustainable agroforestry, a technique where other income-generating crops are integrated with cocoa and coffee plants.

In 2021, Indonesia was the world’s 13th largest exporter of cocoa beans, which means several countries are dependent on them for exports. The country exported $72.9 million in cocoa beans in 2021, with central markets in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Japan. The U.S. continues to make up its largest export market. The citizens of Indonesia are also heavily reliant on the coffee and cocoa market; 1 million farm households in Indonesia rely on coca farming to support their families and make a living.

Unfortunately, a lack of farmland, a shortage of reliable infrastructure and extreme weather conditions have driven up the cost of coffee production. Production could decline by 18% in the 2023-2024 market year, while exports could decline by 33%.

LASCARCOCO will increase production, build economic sustainability, support farmers’ livelihoods and meet demands in the international market. One U.S.-based company that will benefit from this initiative is Hershey’s, which will purchase cocoa butter from Indonesia for its own chocolate production.

Digital Access

TALENTA is another one of the USAID programs in Indonesia that positively benefits poverty and the economy. The program will focus on building Indonesia’s digital capabilities and economy through TALENTA. Organizations involved in the initiative are Amazon Web Services and Elitery, an IT management company located in South Jakarta, Indonesia.

TALENTA’s collective goal is to equip 60,000 graduates from 20 different universities with the skills necessary for this changing workforce, especially with Cloud technology. The initiative also aims to establish 100 startups, all of which will strengthen Indonesia’s economy.

Indonesia’s digital economy has been on the rise since 2017 and it could increase by 62% in the 2021-2025 period and will continue growing well into 2030. The expansion of their digital sector has the potential to contribute 4,434 trillion in rupiahs to Indonesia’s GDP by 2030, which is also why the GOI has been encouraging digital literacy among younger generations.

– Jianna Choi
Photo: Unsplash

A Communist Mayor Fights Systemic Poverty in France’s Banlieues

France's BanlieuesMany imagine Paris (and, by association, France itself) as a paragon of bourgeois lavishness, with its beautiful architecture, upscale restaurants and chic socialites. But marginalized beneath such stereotypes is “The Other France” — the low-income housing projects on the outskirts of Paris. These suburbs, or “banlieues,” are home to France’s most underprivileged population, which is overwhelmingly Black, Arab and working class.

Take the poorest of France’s banlieues, Grigny. It is only 21.8 km (13.5 miles) south of Paris’s center. As of November 2020, Grigny’s poverty rate was 45%, compared to the nationwide average of 14.6%. Nearly 10% of Grigny’s population lived below the income threshold that triggers state support.

Historical Context of France’s Banlieues

The economic stagnation in France’s banlieues reflects the dual historical legacy of working-class gentrification and colonial ventures. In the 19th century, Napoleon III appointed Georges-Eugene Haussmann to initiate a series of public works projects. The goal was to modernize Paris — then a den of unsightly buildings, overpopulation and disease — by widening the avenues, building parks, replacing the sewers, and more.

Haussmann’s renovations gentrified the city center and displaced the poor urban proletariat to the city periphery, which naturally became a hotbed for Communist, socialist and anarchist political agitation. These radical movements influenced the 1871 Paris Commune, made the banlieues à ceinture rouge (“red belt”) for the French Communist Party in the 1920s and affect banlieue politics to this day.

Another historical influence on the banlieues was France’s colonial rule over Algeria from 1830–1962. The turmoil of the Franco-Algerian War (1954–62) for Algeria’s independence forced many Algerian Arabs to flee to France. Without much financial or social capital, they were relegated to the already-existing poor districts of Paris’s periphery. By the 1980s, around 25% of Paris’s population was Algerian. That figure is roughly how it stands today, too.

After decolonization in the 1950s, a large number of working-class black immigrants from the former French colonies of Western and Northern Africa (mainly Mali, Senegal and Mauritania) arrived to fulfill France’s need for cheap labor.

Thus, the histories of class conflict, colonization and ethnic migration have all shaped the modern demographics and political culture of France’s banlieues.

How Mayor Philippe Rio and Other Local Leaders Are Addressing Banlieue Poverty

In 2021, London-based thinktank The City Mayors Foundation declared Philippe Rio, the French Communist Party mayor of Grigny since 2014, to be “the best mayor in the world” for his progressive social policies, especially during the COVID crisis. Among them included the issuing of 38,000 emergency food vouchers and daily check-up calls to the town’s 2,000 retired elderly people. Rio has always been adamant about addressing the structural causes of the Parisian banlieues’ poverty: lack of educational resources, lack of affordable housing and job discrimination.

“In the ‘land of human rights,’ the fifth largest economy in the world, we must denounce, understand and challenge these phenomena of spatial and social segregation that undermine people’s right to the city,” said the Communist mayor in a statement to the U.N.’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In 2021, many local leaders, especially in working-class districts, believed that President Macron’s government was not doing enough for France’s banlieues. So Rio, along with 180 other mayors, signed a petition called Appel de Grigny (“Call of Grigny”) to urge Macron’s government to invest more in the banlieues and include them more thoroughly in the COVID recovery plan, as it had diverted only 1% of its €1 billion budget toward impoverished suburbs. Anne Hidalgo, the Socialist Party mayor of Paris since 2014, endorsed the petition. In the end, they successfully convinced the government to divert another €2 billion towards “urban renewal.”

Within the community, Rio’s administration is working to make Grigny’s housing more affordable. 17,000 of Grigny’s 38,000 inhabitants live in a housing trust called Grigny 2. Due to the severity of their poverty, many cannot afford to pay their bills. This once led to a crisis of “over-indebtedness” that forced landlords to shut off residents’ heating, hot water and natural gas. In response to this, Rio began an initiative for a “100% publicly owned” housing complex powered by geothermal energy. In his interview with Jacobin, he claimed that the project cut bills by 25% and saved 15,000 tons of CO2 emissions in a single year.

Grigny has partnered with nine public bodies — including the regional health agency and Ministry of Education — in a joint “task force against poverty.” Their policies include the free distribution of nutritious breakfasts to children in schools as well as a vocational training center that teaches adults French and job skills. To solidify the right of all residents to have affordable housing, Grigny has created a unit to inspect apartments and take action against predatory landlords who provide “substandard accommodation.”

What’s Next

Philippe Rio is a talented local leader continuing France’s long tradition of “municipal communism” in working-class towns and setting a positive example for other banlieue mayors. This generation of municipal leaders is providing a check against the French State, making sure that it gives necessary attention to France’s banlieues. They recognize that realizing ‘liberté, égalité and fraternité’ requires addressing the historical legacy of a time when these, quite clearly, did not exist for all.

– Eric Huang
Photo: Unsplash

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Trafficking in Thailand’s Indigenous Communities

Trafficking in Thailand’s Indigenous CommunitiesThe hill tribes of Thailand encompass ethnic minority groups residing in Northern Thailand. These indigenous communities face significant challenges in accessing social welfare programs. Some members of these tribes do not have citizenship, and this further intensifies poverty, limiting education and leading to inadequate employment opportunities. The deprived living conditions affecting indigenous communities make them vulnerable targets for traffickers seeking to exploit their circumstances. The initiatives of NGOs and community leaders aim to create sustainable solutions and combat trafficking in Thailand’s indigenous communities.

Poverty

The high poverty rates among Thai rural indigenous communities create a vulnerable environment for child trafficking to thrive. The 2017 Safe Child Thailand Report concluded that 64% of the hill tribe families in Mae Hong Son province live below the poverty line, earning less than $2 a day. Among them, 23% live in extreme poverty, earning less than $1 a day.

The combination of poverty and the struggle to provide for their families makes the hill tribe communities particularly susceptible to the manipulations of child and sex traffickers and brokers. Traffickers and brokers entice children from these tribes with promises of higher wages and improved living conditions, exploiting their vulnerability and desperation to escape poverty. In some cases, traffickers convince families from the hill tribes to sell their children, convincing them that doing so will provide them with a brighter future.

Limited Education

Limited access to education heightens vulnerability to child trafficking in Thailand’s indigenous communities. According to the 2017 Safe Child Thailand Report, only 51% of hill tribe children enroll in primary school — significantly lower than the national average of 87%. The situation worsens at the secondary level, with only 35.6% of boys and 29% of girls continuing their education. Consequently, 25% of hill tribe people are functionally illiterate, compared to a national average of just 2%.

The Istituto Internazionale Maria Ausiliatrice and the International Volunteerism Organization for Women, Education and Development name poverty as the primary driver pushing children into prostitution and forced labor. Children from indigenous communities in northern Thailand, often lacking Thai citizenship and facing limited opportunities for schooling, are compelled to work at a young age, making them prime targets for child trafficking.

Lack of Employment Opportunities

The restricted movement imposed by current legislation on hill tribe people in Thailand contributes to their vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation. Many individuals within hill tribe communities lack basic identification and official documentation, hindering their ability to travel outside their home areas and seek better work opportunities.

Due to the limited freedom of movement, hill tribe populations often require assistance or guidance to feel more secure when leaving their areas. Brokers offer to facilitate the illegal movement, smuggling and trafficking of Thai indigenous men, women and children. Brokers take advantage of the desperate circumstances and restricted mobility of hill tribe individuals and exploit them through trafficking and forced labor.

UNESCO recognizes statelessness as a significant risk factor for the hill tribe people to be trafficked and exploited. They cannot obtain certificates that validate their educational qualifications, acquire land titles or secure legitimate employment outside their immediate communities. As a result, sex and child traffickers hoodwink members of the hill tribes into exploitative informal labor arrangements.

Civil Society Organizations

Civil society organizations are taking action to address the lack of legal protections and social welfare support for Thailand’s hill tribes.

For example, the Green Horizon Project (GHP), launched by Plan International and GE Thailand, provides vocational and entrepreneurial training to women, empowering them with skills for starting businesses. GE Thailand volunteers support local schools and students, repairing infrastructure and donating supplies. From repairing school playgrounds and fences to school supply donations, these initiatives reflect the positive changes in the lives of hill tribe people in Thailand, providing them with more opportunities and options for a better future.

Moreover, the Karen Hilltribes Trust (KHT) focuses on improving health and well-being through projects such as water and sanitation initiatives, agricultural support and education access for rural Karen children. KHT ensures that children staying in school dormitories receive three nutritious meals daily, fostering their educational development.

The work of community non-profit organizations is actively addressing these issues and fostering sustainable development. Overall, these efforts aim to empower hill tribe members, provide them with better opportunities and raise awareness about their rights and well-being.

– Freya Ngo
Photo: Unsplash

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How Aid to Pakistan Could Serve US Interests

Aid to PakistanPakistan currently faces severe economic challenges, including low foreign reserves, a depreciating currency and high inflation of 38% as of June 2023. These issues have significant implications for poverty in the country. Aid to Pakistan has played a crucial role in addressing these economic difficulties and reducing poverty in the past. According to a congressional research service report from last month, Pakistan is experiencing a “[poly-crisis]” that encompasses politics, economy and security. These economic challenges not only hinder Pakistan’s development but also contribute to deepening poverty levels.

US Aid and its Impact on Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan

Historically, U.S. aid has alleviated poverty in Pakistan through various sectors such as health care, infrastructure development and agriculture. For instance, U.S. economic assistance in the 1960s supported the implementation of the “Green Revolution,” leading to higher-yielding varieties of crops like wheat and rice and improved agricultural productivity. This aid contributed to increased agricultural productivity, improved livelihoods and a subsequent reduction in poverty. GDP rate increased to 10.4 in 1965.

From 2002-2010, the U.S. provided significant financial assistance to Pakistan, primarily addressing terrorist threats and security concerns. This aid not only contributes to poverty reduction but also helps create jobs, stimulate economic growth and alleviate food insecurity.

Between 2001 and 2018, the poverty rate in Pakistan saw a significant decline, with more than 47 million Pakistanis lifting themselves out of poverty due to the expansion of off-farm economic opportunities and increased remittances. Aid to Pakistan has been a key driver of this positive change, contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development. By increasing aid to Pakistan, the U.S. can fulfill its humanitarian obligations while also assisting in alleviating the deepening crisis within the country by fulfilling its commitment to goal 1 of U.N. SDGs like ‘Zero Poverty.’

The Borgen Project sought the expertise of Dr. Farhat Asif, an international affairs expert and founder of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS), Islamabad. Dr. Asif highlighted how supporting an economically stable Pakistan aligns with U.S. foreign policy interests, particularly in terms of poverty alleviation and humanitarian commitments.

Supporting Pakistan aligns with American values of promoting economies on the brink of default and fostering democratic communities. Aid contributes to improving well-being, reducing poverty and enhancing access to health care, education and basic services.

Counter-Terrorism

One significant aspect Dr. Asif mentioned is that economic stability enables Pakistan to invest in modernizing its security infrastructure, enhancing intelligence capabilities and improving counter-terrorism capabilities. This not only counters extremist groups operating within Pakistan but also ensures regional stability. Counter-terrorism is a mutual interest between the U.S. and Pakistan and sustained U.S. support becomes crucial, especially when Pakistan lacks the financial stability to fund new security projects. A prosperous Pakistan indirectly helps the U.S. achieve its counter-terrorism goals and provides a secure environment for businesses.

Increase in FDI

A thriving economy fosters a safe business environment and attracts foreign direct investment (FDI). As per Dr Farhat, ‘’As Pakistan’s economic stability improves, it becomes an increasingly attractive market for U.S. businesses seeking to invest, benefiting both countries. FDI not only improves bilateral trade but also leads to job creation and contributes to poverty reduction. Aid plays a vital role in revitalizing economic stability and bringing certainty to the market.’’

Regional Stability

The stability of Pakistan is crucial for regional security, considering its location in a volatile region with borders shared by Afghanistan, Iran and India. Instability within Pakistan could have spillover effects on neighboring countries and negatively impact regional security. By promoting economic stability through aid, internal conflicts can be reduced, peace can be fostered and overall regional stability can be achieved. Dr. Farhat explained that this is a significant concern for the U.S., as a stable Pakistan reduces the risk of conflicts escalating, provides a favorable environment for diplomatic engagement and negotiations and helps the U.S. address terrorism proliferation and critical regional issues such as border-fencing and the Afghan peace process.

Moral Imperative

Additionally, supporting Pakistan aligns with American liberal values of supporting economies on the brink of default and fostering democratic communities of peaceful coexistence. Aid can help stabilize and strengthen Pakistan’s economy, improving the well-being of its people, reducing poverty and enhancing access to health care, education and basic services. Aid becomes a moral imperative to assist Pakistan, considering its status as a foremost victim of terrorism. Supporting Pakistan’s development aligns with the United States’ commitment to SDGs like zero poverty.

History of US Aid to Pakistan

Throughout history, the U.S. has provided significant financial and military aid to Pakistan. The Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act passed in 2009 aimed to provide a long-term, civilian-focused assistance package of $7.5 billion to Pakistan, supporting economic development, education, health care and governance reforms. While security assistance was suspended in 2018 due to concerns, recent years have seen renewed engagement and assistance between the U.S. and Pakistan, particularly in economic cooperation, energy projects and education through organizations like USIP and USAID.

Notably, recent USAID programs like the Pakistan Reading Project (PRP), the Pakistan Agricultural Technology Transfer Activity (PATTA) and the Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) have aimed to improve education, agricultural productivity and trade competitiveness, respectively, contributing to Pakistan’s economic growth and stability.

The PRP, worth 164.7 million dollars was initiated in 2013 and ending in 2023, aims to improve the reading skills of 1.3 million children in grades one and two across Pakistan. It also supports teacher training, curriculum development, community engagement and policy reform to enhance the quality of early-grade education.

The PATTA program, an 8.2 million dollar project which started in 2017 and ended in 2021, aimed to increase smallholder farmers’ access to affordable, appropriate and effective agricultural technologies that could boost productivity and incomes. It also facilitated partnerships between local technology manufacturers, distributors and service providers to create a sustainable market for agricultural innovations. It helped 147,910 small farmers to adopt new technologies.

In addition, the PREIA program, implemented from 2015 to 2020, focused on enhancing Pakistan’s trade competitiveness and integration into regional and international markets. It supported policy reforms, trade facilitation, private sector engagement and women’s economic empowerment to foster economic growth and stability.

Lastly, since the 1950s through USAID to Pakistan, the Fulbright program, initiated in the 1950s, continues to offer fully funded opportunities for unprivileged Pakistani students to study in the U.S. The program has created a network of around 37,000 Fulbright Alumni working in various sectors in Pakistan.

Way Forward

Overall, aid to Pakistan plays a vital role in addressing economic challenges, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. By increasing aid, the U.S. can fulfill its humanitarian obligations, contribute to poverty alleviation and potentially advance its own strategic interests related to counter-terrorism, regional stability and promoting democratic values. The continued support of the U.S. through aid programs is crucial in helping Pakistan overcome its economic challenges, stimulate growth and improve the well-being of its people. 

– Sarmad Wali Khan
Photo: Unsplash

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Tackling Poverty in the Netherlands Is Urgent

Tackling Poverty in the NetherlandsOn June 9, 2023, Dutch opposition parties took urgent action to address poverty in the Netherlands, demanding significant changes before the summer. The leader of the Socialist Party, Lilian Marijnissen, emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people in the country are living in poverty, with an increasing number relying on food banks. The cabinet also expressed its commitment to reducing poverty. Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag clarified that they are carefully considering all aspects related to tackling poverty in the Netherlands. In March, the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis warned that projections indicated a rise in poverty from 4.7% in 2023 to 5.8% of the population in 2024.

Statistics Show Poverty Remains an Issue

Poverty affects nearly a million citizens in the Netherlands (6% of the population), with children, migrants and the elderly being the most vulnerable groups. To combat this issue, the government plans to reduce poverty through measures like high-income taxes, which could potentially decrease poverty by 60%. Increasing the minimum income support is also likely to be a significant step toward alleviating poverty.

At the end of 2022, the at-risk-of-poverty rate in the Netherlands stood at 14.5%, as reported by EUROSTAT. A 2022 European Commission report highlighted the Netherlands as the only EU state with a social safety net that prevents people from falling into poverty; the country’s minimum income ensures citizens are not left in destitution.

According to CBS, the Netherlands has made progress in reducing the percentage of the poor. However, not all statistics indicate success, as wages have increased, but those at the bottom of the income ladder have become poorer.

Children Living in Poverty in the Netherlands

According to data from 2022, 6.6% of Dutch children live in low-income households. The Netherlands is one of the world’s richest countries; however, 10% of the population lives below the poverty line, which makes education and health care financially unreachable for children growing up in poorer families.

Another issue in the Netherlands is the punishment of children physically at home and school. Violence against children is still an existing problem in the culture. Many of the refugees are held in centers for a longer period, and children seeking asylum do have uninsured rights.

Advancements Toward Battling Poverty in the Netherlands

The National Plan concerning policy on child poverty has declared that every child has access to health care, and local authorities have the accountability to make sure children can get health services since 2022.

Child homelessness is almost nonexistent in the Netherlands, but exact information on children living on the streets is not available. The country does not have a program that focuses on supporting homeless children. They sometimes end up living in child-friendly women’s shelters for a maximum of three months.

The number of children at risk of poverty in the long term has shrunk every year since 2015. The National Plan shares the same view with the government to tackle child poverty. The cabinet is planning on establishing the improvement of the process.

Ongoing Efforts

The Dutch government is working to help those living in extreme poverty who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine by cooperating with organizations aiming to create food security. The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) initiated action against poverty this year. It plans to collect products for the food bank to stop poverty from expanding. This year the Dutch government decided to cut 3.4 billion euros from the budget for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance in the next few years as it intends to turn those funds inward and provide housing for asylum seekers within the country’s borders.

An association of more than 100 Dutch development organizations considers it ill-advised that the Dutch government cut back on tackling the root causes of conflict, climate change, poverty and humanitarian assistance. The Netherlands received €413 million from the European Social Fund in 2022 to resist growing poverty. The country became the first that used money from the EU to ensure people have enough to survive. This means that almost €16 million has been rearranged for essential support, food, books for children and hygienic products for girls. The funding for the European Social Fund runs up to 2027.

What is Next?

The Netherlands employs various methods to combat poverty, boasting one of the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rates at 5.4%, in contrast to the EU average of 21.7%. Marjolijn van Gerven, the National Sustainable Development Goals coordinator, highlighted the diverse approaches for addressing poverty in the country and emphasized the importance of scientific and methodological access in this endeavor. The efforts to tackle and prevent the spread of poverty are underway, as evident in Finance Minister Sigrid Kaag’s statement: “The government really wants to prevent more people from falling into poverty. But we weigh everything, and we do that in August.”

– Klaudia Laura Sebestyen
Photo: Flickr

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The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking

Technology in Human Trafficking
For years, technology has pervaded trafficking spaces as a dangerous tool that traffickers use for surreptitious recruitment, advertisement and exploitation of victims. With reports illustrating the online inventories traffickers utilize to exhibit their victims as commodities that others can purchase and exploit, it is evident that the role of technology in human trafficking is one that provides perpetrators with an unsettling advantage. There is a strong link between poverty and human trafficking as traffickers often target the most vulnerable, marginalized and impoverished people.

How Traffickers Utilize Technology

The threatening reach of perpetrators even extends to children. According to the Shiva Foundation, online demand depicts that there could be as many as 750,000 users across the globe seeking to sexually exploit children online. Social media also plays a role in enabling traffickers to target, contact and lure potential victims into exploitative deals, as indicated by the 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.

In addition, GPS software in phones, alongside video surveillance and live streaming technology, assists perpetrators in keeping constant control of their victims’ movements. Furthermore, post-captivity, victims who have permanent images and reminders of their sexual exploitation etched in the online space may struggle with recovery.

The Role of Technology in Human Trafficking Amid COVID-19

The virtual recruitment of trafficking victims has become significantly more prevalent with time, as outlined by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Particularly, following the global outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, people around the world began relying on technology and social media to interact with others amid social distancing protocols. During this time, traffickers used online social media platforms to lure victims. This danger rendered offenders more difficult to trace to a concrete physical location.

In Save the Children’s 11th edition of the report “Little Invisible Slaves,” which documents child trafficking, the organization highlighted that, in 2020, Western and Southern Europe noted the highest number of confirmed child trafficking cases globally—a total of 4,168 child victims. Furthermore, numerous cases involved the sexual exploitation of young women, with 27.5% of incidents hailing from Tunisia. The report also marked a rise in the cases of trafficked women with children, primarily from Nigeria, which rose to 12% in 2020 in contrast to 6% in 2016.

In 2020, the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the U.S. saw a “125% increase in reports of recruitment into trafficking through Facebook and a 95% increase in reports of recruitment on Instagram compared to the previous year.” Considering this link between technology and human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reports the “internet as the top recruitment location for all forms of trafficking.”

The Positive Role of Technology in Human Trafficking

While social media can be a dangerous space for traffickers to gather intel on and recruit victims, it can also be beneficial in raising awareness, informing and educating the general populace on the issue. Technology plays a crucial role in undercutting human trafficking through techniques such as data aggregation, which refers to the synthesis of relevant online trends. For instance, in 2022, Thomas Reuters collaborated with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to examine whether an online demand exists for the exploitation of particularly vulnerable groups, such as Ukrainian women facing the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine.

The results of their investigation pointed to a spike of up to 300% in online interest in the sexualization of Ukrainian women following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As Ukrainian women face high risks of becoming victims of trafficking n their attempts to escape wartime strife, this illustrates the necessity of technology and data aggregation in identifying online trends and in victim identification.

Moreover, through the use of data analysis and aggregation to pinpoint vulnerable groups, technology can provide a platform for the launching of campaigns that promote safety and spread awareness. Notably, in light of the increased risk of trafficking for Ukrainian women, the OSCE and Thomson Reuters launched the “Be Safe” campaign in 2022. The online awareness campaign targeting Ukrainians critically outlines warning signs of trafficking, minimizes the risk and guides potential victims to local sources of assistance.

Using Technology in Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts

Love Justice International, funded by the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (UNVTF), uses technology to intercept trafficking situations. “By combining its own data on previous potential victims with road network graphs from OpenStreetMap (a collaborative open-source geographic database), [Love Justice International] has created route heatmaps showing the road segments that are likely to be most heavily used for human trafficking in certain areas,” the UNODC website explains.

Love Justice International establishes transit monitoring stations to identify potential victims of trafficking and intervene before the trafficking occurs. In 2006, the organization began its human trafficking interception work at the border of India and Nepal and in Bangladesh. Since then, it has established transit monitoring sites in several countries with high human trafficking rates. In 2022, monitoring extended to Romania, Moldova, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Burundi, Mexico and Indonesia. Love Justice International now has 78 transit monitoring sites and has intercepted more than 46,000 potential victims of trafficking. The organization’s trafficking work has led to more than 1,300 arrests.

In July 2023 in a video message published on the UNODC website, Ghada Waly, executive director of the UNODC, says, “To protect people, we need to protect digital spaces from criminal abuse.” Exploring the role of technology in human trafficking shows that technology does provide certain advantages to traffickers. However, as seen in the activities of Love Justice International and other organizations, technology also plays a significant role in efforts to combat human trafficking.

– Katrina Girod
Photo: Flickr

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Water Access in Iraq: How Two Men in Iraq Helped Save Their Community

Water Access in IraqDespite decades of poor access to water in Iraq, one family may have finally found a solution. They live in the village of Al-Huta, a small community near the Port of Basrah. Even with their proximity to water, the potable quality worsened. In 2018, pollution became so bad that water poisoned more than 100,000 residents. This contamination was so bad that it even corrupted the crops, sending Ali Sattar, his family and the entirety of the village of Al-Huta into food and drinkable water scarcity.

It was 28-year-old Ali Sattar, a financial expert for a flourishing oil field, and his neighbor Nazim Yousif who came up with a solution.

The Solution

To address the water scarcity issue, Sattar and Yousif led the community in combining their resources to purchase weekly tankers to bring clean water to Al-Huta. These containers were able to supply ten households with potable water, ensuring safe drinking water and supporting agricultural activities in the neighborhood.

While this solution effectively provided clean water, the cost of each tanker was around $400, equivalent to a month’s salary. Sattar and Yousif realized that this approach was not sustainable in the long term. They recognized the need for external assistance to bring lasting change. Eventually, they sought support from USAID, understanding that collaboration was crucial to achieving their goals.

As early as 2019, USAID has worked with the United Nations Development Programme regarding supporting water treatment plants found throughout Basrah. Since then, its actions have adapted to meet local and international standards, renovating these plants for safe, clean water access in Iraq to roughly 625,000 residents, according to USAID.

By extension, tankards dropped from $400 to $30 for the community, an attainable cost for a sustainable solution.

Iraq As a Whole

Al-Huta is not the only community struggling with contaminated water in Iraq. In fact, according to The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, as of March 2023, the majority of the country’s natural water supply is polluted with oil, feces and medicinal waste. Drinking it has caused a massive upheaval of diseases among the populace.

The Tigris and Euphrates are not safe to drink. However, support from USAID and others may be able to help the rest of the country, as was the case with Al-Huta.

Ongoing Support

Some activists based in Iraq have also been working to fight the water crisis. Salman Khairalla, founder of the advocacy campaign Save The Tigris and Iraqi Marshes in March 2012, partnered with 30 other activists across the Iraqi Social Forum and Iraqi Activist Network. Their actions include bringing attention to the negative impact of dams on the safety of their water. Their voices created such a stir that the UNESCO World Heritage List added the marshlands in 2016, allowing the movement to receive more funding.

One of these movements also involves the ongoing Iraq Water Fund, established through Human Appeal in 2016. Through donations, the initiative builds solar-powered purifiers for water access in Basrah villages, offering fresh water and electricity to those who need it most. These efforts have proven successful in rehabilitating over 20 schools and providing meals for 85,000 children. This is alongside many other impressive feats that continue to bear fruit for the country even today.

–  Nathan Bronk
Photo: Picryl