Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Raising Awareness of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa

  Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
Scattered across the country of South Africa, amongst a landscape of rich and vivid beauty, outside of diverse busy cities, are smaller, poorer cities, known as townships. Townships began as a means of racial segregation during Apartheid; these were places for black people and people of color to live and they remain racially segregated settlements, where people often live in extreme poverty. It is here that the intersections of poverty and gender collide. Gender-based violence is so prevalent that Diepsloot, one of the biggest townships in the country, witnesses murders of women in the streets. This happens within a country where femicide is five times higher than the global average. Within the lush landscape of South Africa, an ugly side lurks.

How Does Poverty in Townships Influence Gender-Based Violence?

Many studies conclude that poverty and gender-based violence are in a close relationship: a lack of economic stability means there are fewer opportunities to escape a dangerous situation and fewer resources to seek help. Similarly, the violence women and girls experience can feed into their poverty: traumas or even physical injuries endured can lead to a lack of work prospects. Yet, because of the history of townships as spaces of racial segregation, the gender-based violence within them is not just a matter of class or gender. It is also a matter of race. Naledi Joyi, writing for the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), argues that violence in townships against Black women’s bodies is unyielding and multifaceted. Social indicators of class, gender and race intertwine to make it harder for Black women living in poverty to have access to appropriate resources for help.

The Local: Green Door

Authorities need to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa in its poorest communities and they are making progress. According to CSVR, police response and medical assistance to violence against women and girls in townships are inadequate. However, local programs developed within township communities can offer help to women in vulnerable situations.Diepsloot, located on the peripheries of Johannesburg, is one of the densest townships in South Africa and is the home of Green Door, a local shelter for women and children. Originally beginning as a response to the high levels of violence against women and girls in the township, Green Door is a small building that offers victims temporary shelter, support, resources and legal advice. It is the only place of its kind in Diepsloot and a “lifeline” to many.

The National: Women for Change

Women for Change is a national nonprofit grassroots organization that aims to eradicate gender-based violence in South Africa. Since 2016, it has been advocating for women’s rights in the face of a government that fails to acknowledge the severity of the problem. Women for Change aims to eradicate gender-based violence and femicide within a country that reports 146 sexual offenses daily, with an estimated 95% of assaults unreported, according to its website. The organization utilizes its large social media presence to globalize the information and raise awareness in the world of the plight of many South African women and girls. Though Women for Change does not work strictly with women in townships, its dedication to ending the country’s epidemic of gender-based violence by raising voices means that others will hear the voices of all women and girls in South Africa.

Making the Fight Global

The work that is occurring to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa at large and give voice to the women living in townships is imperative. Organizations, such as Green Door and Women for Change, are paving a path toward a better future for all women. These organizations can ensure that these forgotten cities, where women and girls’ needs are often overlooked, do not hold forgotten women. They too have a voice.

– Eloïse Jones
Photo: Flickr

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Algeria 

Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Algeria
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, leading to widespread job losses and a sharp decline in economic activity. COVID-19 has particularly hit the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria has added to the country’s economic and social challenges as it experienced a double shock due to a sudden fall in foreign revenues and recession-induced lockdown measures.

Algeria’s Oil-Dependent Economy

Algeria’s oil-dependent economy suffered a severe blow accounting for more than 95% of the government’s budget. The economy has struggled due to years of falling global oil prices since 2014. Algeria heavily relies on oil and gas exports, rather than diversifying into other sectors, which made it vulnerable to the disruption of global trade due to COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, Algeria was already facing significant economic challenges, including high levels of youth unemployment that reached 26%, while women’s unemployment rate was on the rise and widening the gender gap. Inequality and economic hardships led to nationwide strikes and protests.

Moreover, Algeria suffers from multidimensional poverty that affects all poverty dimensions: education, health, living conditions, unemployment and financial inclusion. A 2021 Economic Research Forum article said that despite laws that provide mandatory education for nine years and the health law that assumes that health care is free for all, Algeria still needs to achieve those objectives.

In addition, more than 75% of the population do not have access to either hot water, heaters, television or refrigerator, or access to the internet. In comparison, 60% of the population has no access to waste management and 43% of households have at least one child not registered in school.

Decrease in Economic Activity

The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded Algeria’s economic challenges, leading to the closure of businesses, job losses and a sharp decline in consumer confidence, which resulted in a significant decrease in economic activity, exacerbating poverty levels in the country.

To curb the spread of the virus, the Algerian government implemented curfews and mandatory closing times for businesses. However, these measures disproportionately affected low-wage and informal workers who could not work remotely and lacked job security.

The Algerian Government’s Measures

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on poverty in Algeria, the government has taken several measures, including providing financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises, food subsidies and cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations.

It also launched a major vaccination campaign to reach 70% of the population and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy, according to the Middle East Institute (MEI). The success of this vaccination drive was critical in restoring consumer confidence and kickstarting economic growth in the country, thus, decreasing the poverty rate and its effects. In April 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) classified Algeria as a “slow inoculator” in its regional economic index, indicating that the country was lagging in its vaccination efforts.

The government fully funded a massive program to ensure vaccine accessibility to all residents. It has also “prioritized health care workers, vulnerable people and police officers” first to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The government should test its health system periodically to improve operational abilities and evaluate its financial system to ensure adequate reimbursements, which will equip the country with a better capability to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria.

NGOs That are Helping

NGOs in Algeria have also played a crucial role in supporting the health care system to provide lifesaving care to Algerians. In August 2022, the Algerian Medical Network launched a fundraising campaign to purchase medical equipment and hospital supplies as the country faced a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Nas Al-Khair, a local NGO operating in northwestern Algeria, launched a campaign to spread awareness, distribute masks and sanitizers and deliver food to residents safely to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and its effects on the community.

Despite the challenges Algeria’s economy faces before and during the pandemic, there are signs of a slow recovery and these measures have helped to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on poverty in Algeria. However, the economic outlook remains uncertain and challenging as pre-pandemic vulnerabilities persist. The IMF has highlighted the need for Algeria to address its declining energy revenues and support the private sector to ensure sustainable economic growth. The Algerian government has implemented plans to tackle these challenges and promote economic recovery.

– Nisan Ahmado
Photo: Flickr

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King Charles’ Charitable Efforts

King Charles’ Charitable Efforts
As Prince of Wales, Charles has long since made great efforts to transform lives and build sustainable communities. He has been a patron to more than 400 charities and in the last 10 years has raised approximately £140 million. However, as he takes his place as King, his new duties will necessarily require him to take a step back. Though expected to continue most of Elizabeth II’s 600 patronage involvements, he may have to offload or even entirely reconsider some of these commitments. What is sure is that Charles deeply values charitable action, and intends to go to great lengths to continue championing its cause.

King Charles’ Charitable Efforts as Prince

Charles waited his turn to become King for more than 70 years, an extended period that galvanized him to make a difference while Prince. By principle, he advocated a streamlining of the Monarchy, reducing expenditure that could make room for charitable efforts such as improving living conditions in some of the world’s poorest regions.

He has founded charities such as the Prince’s Foundation, an educational organization that aims to create a sustainable future for people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as the Prince’s Trust, which works towards a similar goal but exclusively within the United Kingdom.

Foremost among King Charles’ charitable efforts is establishing the Turquoise Mountain foundation, an NGO that works to protect heritage and communities around the world, providing “jobs, education and a renewed sense of pride” in developing regions. Since 2006, it has treated more than 160,000 patients at its Kabul clinic, built more than 50 small businesses in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Middle East, and helped preserve precious cultures while driving economic development.
Another prominent accomplishment is his founding of Duchy Originals in the early 1990s, with the goal of improving “soil fertility, biodiversity and human health.” His interest in the environment dates back to the 1960s, long before it was ubiquitously supported. The brand donates all its profits to charitable causes, and in the decade since partnering with Waitrose, a leading British supermarket, in 2009 turned over more than £30 million.

The Legacy of Elizabeth II

As impressive as Charles’ own track record is, he will be succeeding his mother Elizabeth II who has been hailed by some as the most charitable monarch in history, having raised more than £1.4 billion for charities in her lifetime.
This succession raises some doubt surrounding the future of fundraising. The first big question concerns what will become of Charles’ previous charitable duties. According to The Conversation, it is generally understood that William will take on the majority, though there are some who doubt if William will be quite as involved in the minutiae of advocacy as his father was, and whether this could affect performance.
Secondly, exactly what will become of Elizabeth II’s patronage is unknown. Though Charles could take on the majority, some commitments could be up for review in the near future.

Charles’ Pledges for the Future

What Charles has so far indicated for certain as King is that, according to his Christmas speech in 2022, charitable organizations “which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult of circumstances” will remain an integral part of his focus.
Though he has only been on the throne for a short period, among King Charles’ charitable efforts thus far has been a new £1.95 million pledge from the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF) to seven personally important causes. One of these recipients will be Practical Action, which aims to support farmers in their transition to regenerative farming approaches in sub-Saharan Africa. This is not only beneficial to the environment; it secures the posterity of local farmers. Practical Action will receive £390,000.

Charles’ early actions as king and his impressive charitable efforts as Prince of Wales show that, despite questions over leadership roles in the wake of his succession, the fight against poverty will continue to receive a great deal of support and advocacy from the British Monarchy.

– Gabriel Gathercole
Photo: Flickr

Period Poverty in Pakistan Heightens Amid Floods

Period Poverty in Pakistan
Pakistan has some of the highest rates of period poverty globally, largely resulting from the persistent taboos that surround the issue of menstruation. As much as 80% of young girls in Pakistan drop out of school, partly due to a lack of menstrual education and inadequate supplies/facilities to adequately manage their menstruation. In some rural areas, women are restricted to a single room during their menstrual cycles. With recent floods destroying both homes and sanitation facilities in some areas, many women have no choice but to resort to harmful menstrual management practices.

Period Poverty and the 2022 Floods

In 2022, Pakistan saw some of the worst flooding in the nation’s history. The floods led to the deaths of 1,700 people at a minimum and displaced about 8 million individuals due to the destruction of homes. The floods had numerous knock-on effects, including increased period poverty in Pakistan.

Water submerged more than a third of the country during the height of Pakistan’s 2022 floods, leaving more than 8 million women without the necessary resources or facilities to properly manage their menstruation. During the floods, women resorted to using “plastic bags, leaves, damp newspapers, damp rags and old clothes” due to the lack of proper menstrual products.

Researchers from Aga Khan University Hospital conducted a study on menstrual hygiene among women aged 14-49 in Dadu district, Sindh province, an area that recent floods in Pakistan harshly impacted. Researchers noted that from 2019 to 2021, roughly 40% of the 25,000 females surveyed were not using any menstrual products at all.

While many organizations and national governments came to Pakistan’s aid, pledging more than $9 billion, relief packages did not prioritize menstrual aid as Pakistani society typically avoids the taboo topic. Period poverty and the use of unhygienic alternatives to manage menstruation along with a lack of hygiene facilities can lead to serious health implications, such as infections, toxic shock syndrome and vaginal diseases.

Pakistan heavily taxes menstrual products, placing them under a so-called “luxury tax” despite their necessity. Many women, especially in rural areas, simply cannot afford these supplies, resulting in “79[%]of Pakistani women [suffering] from poor menstrual hygiene every month,” according to The Diplomat.

Mahwari Justice

Mahwari Justice is a menstrual flood relief group that two students, Bushra Mahnoor and Anum Khalid, set up in July 2022. They have distributed menstrual hygiene products in Pakistan since the beginning of last year’s floods. The group believes that breaking the stigma around period poverty is one of the main hurdles when it comes to enabling more women to access period products in Pakistan. The students are unapologetic in the face of taboo with the name Mahwari simply translating to “periods” in Urdu.

The group adapts its menstrual kits to different areas based on the extent of the flooding impacts. For example, for the 660,000 people living in disaster relief camps in Pakistan in September 2022, washable products that can be reused are not suitable given poor water and sanitation access.

However, in areas less affected, teaching women to make their own reusable period products is an effective long-term solution. Mahwari Justice provided 20,000 menstrual kits to females in need at the peak of Pakistan’s 2022 floods. The group has pledged to continue fighting to end period poverty in Pakistan, not only in light of the recent flooding but also to create a brighter future for women and girls in Pakistan.

By putting girls and women at the forefront of relief efforts, aid organizations can prioritize the needs of some of the most marginalized individuals.

– Florence Jones
Photo: Flickr

Period Poverty in Peru

Period Poverty in Peru
In May 2018, the World Bank shockingly announced that more than 500 million women worldwide live in period poverty. The inability to manage menstrual health due to the expense or unavailability of sanitary products or bathroom facilities is an issue women face globally. In counties where general poverty rates are higher, the level of period poverty is high. Indeed, Action Aid estimates that in developing nations, “half of all women and girls are sometimes forced to use items like rags, grass and paper” owing to a complete lack of hygiene products. One such country that experiences period poverty at a higher rate than the global average is Peru.

Poverty and COVID-19

Peru is located on South America’s west Pacific coast and with a population of 33 million people is the fourth largest nation on the continent. The Peruvian economy experienced significant growth in the first two decades of the 21st century with the rate of moderate poverty more than halving from 42.4% in 2007 to 20.2% in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Peru.

In terms of the number of deaths as a percentage of the population, Peru has the worst rates in the world. With a mortality rate of almost 666 deaths per 100,000 people, nearly double the U.S. percentage, Peru has suffered heavily during the last few years. The European Union accounts this high mortality rate to the “poor state of the Peruvian health system, with a lack of oxygen capacities and intensive care beds.” The country’s poor health care system is a leading cause of the high rate of period poverty in Peru as it currently lacks the capacity to produce and distribute sufficient sanitary products.

Education and Gender Inequality

The issue of period poverty in Peru is an issue of lack of gender equality in terms of education. Writing for GirlUp in May 2021, Giordana Montes and Lizandra Cañedo revealed that, in Latin American culture, menstruation is “considered dirty and something that should not be talked about in public. A taboo.” This belief accounts for reports from UNICEF Mexico claiming that a massive 43% of female students prefer to abstain from school during their cycle.

Indigenous girls, who live in rural areas and experience “the most extreme poverty,” account for “the least educated groups” in Peruvian society. This lack of education for girls causes an early imbalance between genders with the lasting implication that women receive fewer opportunities as they grow up.

The Solution

Fortunately, period poverty in Peru could come to an end. This involves both removing the stigma around periods and also providing sufficient hygiene kits and bathroom facilities to those who need them most. Other countries are paving the way with forward-thinking legislation to end period poverty. In 2020, Scotland became the first country to offer free sanitary products to all women. The same year, France and New Zealand began offering free sanitary products in schools.

While these effective yet expensive methods of tackling the issue are less attainable in poorer nations, the Peruvian government has been responding. The Peruvian Ministry of Education invested 165 million Soles to buy hygiene kits for schools which included menstrual hygiene products, helping to promote awareness and normalize the use of specific products, GirlUp reported. With this government’s willingness to act, as well as the expected global economic recovery in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future of reducing period poverty in Peru looks promising.

– Max Edmund
Photo: Flickr

Saudi Arabia’s Recent Support to Yemen

Saudi Arabia's Support to Yemen
On February 21, 2023, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to deposit $1 billion into the central bank of its middle eastern neighbor to the south, Yemen. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in April 2022, promised $3 billion worth of aid to Yemen’s internationally recognized president, Rashal al-Alimi, in a bid to bolster the country’s struggling economy. Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen aims to assist the Riyadh-backed government to introduce much-needed economic reforms.

The Crisis in Yemen

According to the World Bank, Yemen’s GDP per capita, steadily declining since the onset of the war in 2014, stood at $701.7 in 2018. This decline is likely the result of many governmental issues, but primarily an ongoing civil war entering its ninth year. According to the United Nations Population Fund, as a result of the devastating conflict, 21.6 million Yemeni people need humanitarian aid in 2023. About 80% of the population lives in conditions of poverty, struggling to secure their basic needs, including access to water, food and health services.

The conflict started when Houthi rebels took control of the country’s capital, Sanaa, with demands for lower fuel costs, which in January 2015, forced the Yemen government into exile. Later in March 2015, with U.S. support, Gulf states, including the UAE, driven by Saudi Arabia, began to push for “economic isolation and air strikes” against the Iran-backed insurgents.

Even with the help of multiple powerful countries, the civil war has all but torn to pieces Yemen’s already struggling economy. According to the Department of State, since the onset of the war, as of 2022, the U.S. has provided close to $4.5 billion worth of humanitarian aid to struggling Yemeni people.

Once importing 40% of its grain from Ukraine, food prices have skyrocketed in Yemen since supply chains came to halt following Russia’s invasion of the Eastern European country in February 2022. Additionally, oil refining and exportation — Yemen’s primary sources of income — have slowed acutely since Houthi attacks on tankers and crucial processing facilities.

According to the Middle East Institute, “…given that most of the oil exported from Yemen’s southern terminals is pumped out of fields in the southern part of the country, the Houthis’ attacks could reignite historical grievances over the distribution of resources.”

In an attempt to pay off debts and finance public work sector salaries, the Aden branch of the Yemeni central bank has printed new banknotes, increasing inflation in turn. Insurgent-regulated regions do not accept currency printed by the central bank of Aden.

Looking Ahead

The money that Saudi Arabia and the UAE pledged intended to combat these issues, however, it remains unclear as to whether Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen in late February forms part of the $3 billion promise made with the UAE in April 2022.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi and a sub-organization of the 22-member Arab League, the Arab Monetary Fund will help to ensure the correct use of Saudi Arabia’s recent support to Yemen in the form of the $1 million deposit. The financing intends to fund new initiatives to spur economic growth and address poverty in Yemen while “stabilizing the currency.”

A delicate ecosystem, the Arabian Peninsula is crucial in world oil and petroleum exports. Yemen sits at the very tip of the peninsula and Saudi Arabia neighbors it to the north and Oman neighbors it to the northeast. Aid pledged to Yemen is almost sure to have positive effects on Middle Eastern economies and the U.S. as supply chains are symbiotic relationships between countries.

– Stella Tirone
Photo: Flickr

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Everything to Know about Hunger in India

Hunger in India
India has emerged as a self-sufficient nation over the past three decades in terms of food production, according to the United Nations. Despite this, the country still has a serious hunger problem. Here is everything to know about hunger in India.

Defining and Measuring Hunger

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), “hunger is the habitual consumption of too few calories to provide the minimum dietary energy an individual requires to live a healthy and productive life based on a person’s sex, age, stature and physical activity level.”

A popular way of measuring hunger is through the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which considers four factors: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality.

Drawing on published data from sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund, GHI gives countries a score on a 100-point scale. The higher a country’s score, the more severe the level of hunger. The GHI’s annual assessment presents everything you need to know about hunger in India and other countries.

Since 2014, undernourishment levels have risen slightly nationwide from 14.8% to 16.3%. The 2022 Global Hunger Index ranked India 107th out of 121 countries. With a score of 29.1 on the GHI severity scale, India has a serious level of hunger.

The Good News

Ever since the Green Revolution in India, agriculture has played a significant role in reducing hunger in the country. According to the U.N., more than 70% of rural Indian households still depend on agriculture for their livelihood. As a result, India has seen tremendous growth in food production over the past few decades and is now a major exporter of agricultural products in the world.

Child stunting has dropped drastically from 54.2% to 35.5% between 2000 and 2022. Likewise, child mortality has also gone from 9.2% to 3.3% since 2000, according to the GHI.

Achieving these successes has been possible largely due to government help through subsidized rations on grains, and schemes, such as the 2013 National Food Security Act (NFSA), which increased India’s food distribution capabilities.

The Challenges

Despite the progress India has made toward ending hunger, many challenges lie ahead. The unpredictability brought on by changing weather patterns is causing problems for small-scale Indian farmers. Moreover, excessive chemical fertilizer use is causing land degradation and barrenness in parts of the country. The U.N. reports that 30% of the Indian administrative blocks have “unsustainable levels” of groundwater. More recently, COVID-19 has presented significant obstacles, pushing millions into unemployment and poverty, which, in turn, increased hunger levels in India.

The DAY-NRLM Initiative

From the government to NGOs, many people are trying to tackle hunger in India. The Indian government has introduced several schemes in the past that continue to make a difference today. Launched in 2011 to alleviate poverty, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) aims to reach out to 100 million rural poor households and provide them with employment opportunities.

Funds allocated to DAY-NRLM go toward “social mobilization, promotion and strengthening of self-managed and financially sustainable community institutions of the rural poor women; financial inclusion; sustainable livelihoods; social inclusion; social development and access to entitlements through convergence,” according to the Ministry of Rural Development’s website.

The NFSM and MNREGA

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a scheme that aims to improve agriculture in India by assisting farmers. After the recommendation of India’s National Development Council, the central government launched NFSM in 2007.

The scheme’s objectives involve promoting a sustainable increase in crop production via “area expansion and productivity enhancement,” reestablishing optimal soil health and agricultural productivity “at the individual farm level” and increasing the profits of farmers.

NFSM has proven to be a massive success as India increased its food grain production by 20 million MT between 2007 and 2012. The scheme is currently undergoing implementation across 638 districts in India.

The Indian government also introduced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) in 2005 to give the country’s rural population employment opportunities. MNREGA provides “at least 100 of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work,” according to the Ministry of Rural Development’s website. For the year 2022-2023, MNREGA provided 2.69 billion employment days, benefiting 59.5 million low-income households who are able to meet their basic needs, including their food requirements.

While challenges remain, hunger in India can undergo eradication by helping farmers earn a livelihood sustainably, improving food production and food security and improving the quality of life in the poorest areas of the country.

– Siddhant Bhatnagar
Photo: Flickr

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Near-Elimination of River Blindness in the Americas

River Blindness in the Americas
Three decades ago, river blindness in the Americas stood as a major concern. However, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) by the end of February 2023, “the region of the Americas [had] largely eliminated the disease, with remaining local transmission only in some areas of the Amazon.” Following tens of years of efforts, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala successfully eliminated river blindness between 2013 and 2016, thanks to the work of several key organizations. The near-elimination of river blindness in the Americas has also brought economic benefits by decreasing the financial and social impacts of ill health.

Onchocerciasis/River Blindness

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is a parasitic disease that transmits to humans through the bite of infected Simulium blackflies. These blackflies typically breed in fast-flowing rivers, commonly found in rural areas.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms of river blindness can include extreme itching, skin disfiguration and in severe cases, visual impairment. Currently, no vaccine exists to protect against river blindness. However, the ivermectin drug, when administered on a six-month basis for 12 to 15 years, can prevent transmission of the disease.

The Impacts of River Blindness

Classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease, most of the people infected by river blindness (about 99%) live in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in rural areas that are prone to poverty.

River blindness is a debilitating disease that can hinder human progress in more ways than one. Some of the socio-economic impacts it can have are increasing hunger and poverty, causing vulnerability to other diseases and hindering education.

A study led by Caitlin Dunn and others, published in 2015, states that, in particular, river blindness exacerbates poverty by reducing agricultural yields, increasing medical expenses and decreasing worker productivity. To avoid river blindness infections, in Africa, for example, people resort to relocating to less fertile areas, which reduces their agricultural productivity and impacts overall income.

Those infected by river blindness face higher medical costs, the burden of which pushes people further into poverty through medical debt. Besides the usual symptoms such as severe itching or skin disfiguration, the disease also weakens the immune system, making one more susceptible to other illnesses too. This places a significant financial burden on those living in poverty.

River blindness can also reduce people’s ability to work and earn an income due to fatigue, pain and visual impairment. This leads to lower incomes and impacts children’s learning abilities at school.

Fighting Against River Blindness

One of the first programs with the goal of tackling river blindness began in West Africa in 1974. The Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) underwent implementation in 11 countries including Ghana and Senegal. At first, the program utilized vector control methods such as spraying insecticides in areas where blackflies transmitted river blindness. It later included ivermectin distribution to aid treatment.

According to the WHO, the OCP “relieved 40 million people from infection, prevented blindness in 600,000 people and ensured that 18 million children were born free from the threat of the disease and blindness.” Furthermore, people reclaimed “25 million hectares of abandoned arable land… for settlement and agricultural production, capable of feeding 17 million people annually,” the WHO website says.

In an effort to bring forth similar results in the Americas, the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program of the Americas began in 1992. OEPA’s main goal was to halt the transmission of river blindness in 13 endemic areas via mass drug administration of ivermectin. The program received great support from the Carter Center, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and others.

OEPA and similar initiatives saw significant success, according to the Carter Center. Overall, 11 of the 13 endemic areas in the Americas have successfully eliminated river blindness transmission. In 2013, WHO declared Colombia the first country in the world to be free of the disease. Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala followed soon after.

Looking Ahead

The WHO estimates that river blindness in the Americas currently still affects 28,000 Yanomami Indigenous people who live in parts of the Amazon between Brazil and Venezuela. They continue to receive ivermectin treatments via OEPA.

River blindness elimination programs have seen great success. The programs not only combat diseases but also improve the productivity and quality of life of people living in poverty. According to the World Bank, programs like OCP and OEPA have an economic rate of return of more than 15% annually. Therefore, contributing to the fight against river blindness can mean investing in poverty reduction and economic growth.

– Siddhant Bhatnagar
Photo: Flickr

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The Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquakes on Women and Girls

Impact of the Turkey-Syria Earthquakes
As of February 27, 2023, the Turkey-Syria earthquakes, which struck Southern Turkey near the Syrian border on February 6, 2023, have directly affected 9.1 million people. As with all natural disasters, marginalized communities face the harshest impacts. The impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes on women and girls is detrimental, with ActionAid reporting that the situation has become “increasingly alarming” for women and girls in the aftermath of the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes.

Increased Vulnerability of Women and Girls

The United Nations Development Programme reports that in the event of a natural disaster, “women and children are 14 times more likely than men to die.” Pre-existing structural gender inequalities often make females more vulnerable when a disaster strikes, putting them at a far greater disadvantage than their male counterparts. Women and girls across the globe already face greater challenges when accessing health care. Additionally, females often take on primary caregiving responsibilities, which leave them unable to easily evacuate disaster zones, and are at greater risk of abuse and violence in situations of crisis.

Before the Turkey-Syria earthquakes struck, women and girls in the affected regions already lived in vulnerable circumstances. With countless women and girls internally displaced by the conflict in Syria and others living as refugees in Turkey, female victims of the disaster already struggled with crises brought on by 12 years of war. The impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes on women and girls has only increased the uncertainty already felt by many, pushing females further into hardship and poverty.

The Aftermath of the Turkey-Syria Earthquakes

The well-being of women and girls from low-income backgrounds in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes is of particular concern. The earthquakes, which have claimed the lives of more than 46,000 as of February 19, have left an unprecedented number of women homeless and without families to support them. Many displaced women and girls are at risk of sexual exploitation and child marriages as they struggle for survival.

Pregnant women are also particularly vulnerable, with the United Nations Population Fund stating that 356,000 pregnant women in earthquake-torn regions of Turkey and Syria need urgent help. The widespread destruction caused by the disaster has rendered more than 15 hospitals inoperative, according to the Turkish Ministry of Health, leaving pregnant women unable to access urgent medical services.

The U.K. has acknowledged the need for women and girls to receive particular support as Turkey and Syria grapple with the effects of the earthquakes. In a press release on February 15, 2023, the U.K. announced a £25 million ($30.2 million) additional aid package for the affected regions, with a “particular focus on protecting women and girls.” The U.K. included provisions to reduce the risk of gender-based violence within displaced communities along with medical support to aid in childbirth and midwifery.

Work of NGOs

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are stepping up to provide for women’s needs amid growing concerns about inadequate support for females who are menstruating, pregnant or breastfeeding. Vanessa Zammar, co-founder and project coordinator of Jeyetna, a Lebanese NGO dedicated to tackling period poverty, explained to Al Arabiya English that “gender-blind responses to emergencies and policymaking in general overlook menstruation because it is still considered something to be dealt with by women on an individual level in private.”

In response to the crisis, NGOs across the globe, such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC), are asking people to donate supplies to help vulnerable people impacted by the disaster, especially women and girls. The IRC is also providing “dignity kits” to those in need of feminine hygiene products and has set up a number of safe spaces to help women and children that the earthquakes affected.

The impact of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes on women and girls is devastating. While nations and NGOs have already taken some measures to ensure that women and girls receive protection and support, it is of utmost importance that they remain at the forefront of recovery efforts and humanitarian endeavors.

– Priya Thakkar
Photo: Flickr

UNICEF Helps to Reduce Maternal Mortality Rates in Lebanon

Maternal Mortality Rates in Lebanon
The economic crisis in Lebanon, during which the pandemic worsened, has pushed more than 80% of the population into poverty, leading to high costs of living and decreased health care quality for mothers-to-be. Lebanon previously succeeded in reducing maternal deaths, but these rates have tripled over the last few years. Therefore, there is an urgent need to act to reduce maternal mortality rates in Lebanon. However, the Lebanese Order of Midwives, with support from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), is leading an initiative to provide vulnerable mothers-to-be with door-to-door emergency health care.

Lebanon’s Downfall

Lebanon experienced an economic crisis followed by the pandemic and the Beirut port explosions that led to massive unemployment and poverty for families throughout the region. According to UNICEF, 84% of households did not have enough money to cover fundamental necessities in 2022 and 23% of children went to bed on an empty stomach.

Additionally, Lebanon’s insufficient supply of foreign currency meant the government could not secure essential medical supplies and resources. The government’s inability to pay debts owed to hospitals also impacted health care services. As a result, Lebanon could not provide critical maternal and child health care services.

The Health Impact

Amid several concurrent crises in Lebanon, a rapid assessment, which UNICEF conducted in March 2022, showed a “12.6[%]drop in maternal bed capacity, with the Bekaa and Baalbeck Hermel (BB) governorates the worst affected at 28.6[%], followed by Beirut and Mount Lebanon (BML) at more than 25[%].

Furthermore, hospitals’ availability of pediatric intensive care unit beds decreased by 12% and the availability of newborn intensive care unit beds dropped by 5.5%. The decreased capacities arose as a consequence of the massive exodus of health care workers between 2019 and 2021 due to the economic instability in the nation.

Lebanon’s economic crisis pushed 40% of doctors and 30% of midwives to leave the country from October 2019 to September 2021, significantly decreasing the health care system’s efficiency. As a result, the medical system became overburdened and hospitals had no choice but to deny some medical care.

In October 2021, UNICEF declared that the number of neonatal deaths among refugees in Lebanon increased from 65 in the first quarter of 2020 to 137 in the third quarter across four different provinces. Additionally, a third of the children did not have access to health care in October of the same year. Lastly, transportation costs rose from a lack of subsidies and high fuel costs, impacting the ability of low-income pregnant women to reach the health centers. Therefore, after progress in reducing maternal deaths to 13.7 in 2019, maternal deaths increased to 37 per 100,000 live births by 2021.

The Lebanese Order of Midwives and UNICEF

UNICEF began supporting the Lebanese Order of Midwives council in November 2022. The council sends midwives to aid in the deliveries of pregnant women in the most at-risk areas of the country. The midwives go door-to-door and serve as emergency aid for the women. The council has already hired 57 midwives and plans to employ 300 more local community-based midwives to travel throughout the country until 2025. The council will primarily target women who hesitate to reach out for maternal care and need the service to identify early complications. Additionally, UNICEF will pay the cost of hospital transportation for the women if a case becomes too complicated for the midwives.

The rise in maternal mortality rates in Lebanon represents a regression in the country’s health care progress. Nevertheless, by funding local initiatives, international humanitarian organizations serve as valuable partners for solving pressing global issues in the most impoverished communities.

– Andres Valencia
Photo: Flickr