Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Hungary’s Foreign Aid

Hungary’s Foreign AidAccording to the World Economic Forum data, the top 10 countries that give the most foreign aid are Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Canada, Japan, Finland, the United States and Japan respectively. Also, it is impressive to see that the foreign aid contribution of many European Union (EU) countries is in the top 30 list. As a geographically and politically crucial country in the EU, Hungary is on that list. Here is some information about Hungary’s foreign aid.

Showing Ambition

As an EU country, Hungary ranks sixteenth among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) members for the official development assistance (ODA)/gross national income (GDI) ratio in 2021, according to World Economic Forum. Hungary provided $455 million of ODA in 2021. It is 0.29% of Hungary’s GNI. It may sound lower compared to others in the region like Switzerland which provided $3.9 billion in 2021, with 0.51% of GNI, however, Hungary shows its ambition to invest more in foreign aid continuously with different types of programs and strategies. Numbers are also positive for Hungary’s foreign aid investing ambition. While in 2010, Hungary provided approximately $109 million of ODA, in 2021, it provided $455 million. How did Hungary increase its ODA this much in a decade? Several programs and strategies below are the answer to the increase in Hungary’s foreign aid.

The Hungary Helps Program

The Hungarian Government launched the Hungary Helps program in 2017 to provide aid for global disasters (natural or human-made) and to eliminate the main reasons for forced migration. For this program, Hungary prepares and manages international humanitarian aid projects with the help of religious organizations and charities by targeting the most vulnerable people under various collaborations. Up to now, more than 250,000 people stay in their countries instead of migrating illegally, which may cause security or health risks, according to the Hungarian Government. With this result, this program is highly influential such that there is a recommendation for the United States Government to take a similar approach to the illegal migration problem at the borders in the media.

COVID-19 Response

For the COVID-19 Response, Hungary provided $24 million only in 2020. This amount represents 10.6% of the total gross bilateral ODA, according to OECD. Hungary provided 20 medical ventilators and 20,000 masks to the Republic of Lebanon in 2021 and assisted countries like Serbia, Slovenia and North Macedonia with 600,000 masks and 30,000 items of protective clothing. Additionally, Hungary provided help to African and Asian countries in accordance with the EU Policy.

Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Hungary provided 200 ventilators, 250 patient monitors, 25 central monitors and 100 infusion pumps and blood bags to Ukraine. Also, the government announced it would provide health care to all Ukrainian refugees who stay there for a long time, and this healthcare will be at the same level as Hungarians. Additionally, the government made another shipment of humanitarian aid, including clamps, scissors, instrument trays, infusion sets, bandages, surgical gloves and medicines to Ukraine in March 2022.

Africa Strategy of Hungary

In 2013, Hungary announced this strategy in the Official Gazette and launched the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program that promotes the study of foreign students in Hungary for higher education. It is because the Hungarian Government believes that education ties foreign people to Hungarian culture forever and that when they return to their countries, they protect these ties by engaging in economic activities with Hungary. Under this strategy, for the 2015-2016 Academic Year, Hungary signed bilateral agreements with Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and Tunisia and offered scholarship quotas. In the beginning, 38% of the quota was filled. But in 2020, this increased to 195%. Hungary also signed agreements with South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Cape Verde, in the meantime.

International Development Cooperation Strategy (2020 – 2025)

Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade previously announced the International Development Cooperation Strategy from 2020 to 2025. Hungary would like to increase its effects on the international arena as a country and address the challenges of the global community. With this strategy, Hungary hopes to provide help where it is needed most and aims to solve the main reasons for migration.

All in all, although Hungary’s foreign aid looks limited at first sight, its investment in foreign aid increases each year determinately in accordance with its goals.

– Irem Aksoy
Photo: Flickr

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Human Trafficking in Oman

Human Trafficking in OmanHuman trafficking rates have grown significantly in the last decade. While rising global trends persist amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countries like Oman steadily reinforce its policies to combat human trafficking in Oman.

The Human Trafficking Epidemic

According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), human trafficking is defined as the “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.”

The involuntary movement of people occurs internationally and affects men, women and children. Human trafficking varies in scope and degree regarding its victims’ characteristics. The data shows most women and girls are sex trafficked; most men and boys are labor trafficked. Perpetrators include organized crime groups or individuals acting of their accord. UNODC highlights immigrants and the unemployed as more susceptible to trafficking, with the COVID-19 crisis likely to “expose more people to the risk of trafficking.”

Oman’s Policies on Human Trafficking

According to the U.S. Department of State, Oman ranks at “Tier Two,” indicating a country that lacks to meet the Trafficking Victim Protection Act’s basic requirements but shows substantial effort to meet those standards. Some areas where Oman struggled to fight against human trafficking include failing to prosecute, investigate or convict supposed traffickers. But, while there have been shortcomings, there have been great strides in tackling human trafficking in Oman.

To further develop victim detection and identify possible trafficking situations, the Omani Ministry of Labor and Royal Omani Police created counter-trafficking units. The units investigated over 20,000 labor disputes and monitored and inspected 312 recruiting agencies for possible trafficking scenarios, the U.S. Department of State reports.

Omani authorities also designated approximately $4.6 million in victim shelters and services such as legal support, rehabilitation, medical care and many others. In addition to the victim shelters, the Omani ministry implemented a labor law to better protect the rights of domestic and migrant workers to mitigate abusive labor relationships and boost victims to protective services.

Continuing The Fight Against Human Trafficking

In December 2020, Oman’s Foreign Affairs Ministry hosted a conference to acquire feedback on the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking and evaluate Oman’s effectiveness in combating trafficking. Currently, Oman endorses the National Action Plan. It recognizes the issue of human trafficking and the severe repercussions trafficking has on the marginalized members of society; while stressing the importance of government(s) cooperation in fostering and enhancing anti-trafficking programs.

The Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to finance an expert advisor on international human trafficking and aids multi-national bodies in investigating, proposing new legislation and advancing data collection strategies.

Omanis have also begun to sponsor and host more national campaigns to inform the public about human trafficking in Oman, according to the U.S. Department of State. The campaign instructs its participants on how to correctly identify cases of human trafficking and how to report these crimes to both the authorities and hotline service.

During the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Sultanate of Oman disclosed its recognition of 29 female victims. This is an improvement from the previous year, where the Sultanate discovered only 25 victims, the U.S. Department of State reports. Out of the 29 victims, the trafficking hotline recovered three. Additionally, in June 2022, in cooperation with INTERPOL, Omani authorities successfully rescued six human trafficking victims.

The Omani Centre for Human Rights (formerly the Omani Monitor for Human Rights) is at the forefront of the observance and reporting of human rights matters, including human trafficking in Oman. Its primary objective is to record cases of violation and raise awareness in all public sectors through its team of researchers in the field. The organization coordinates with international bodies such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters without Borders, MENA Rights Group and others, to mobilize international conferences on human rights.

While there is much work to be done, Oman is one of several countries gallantly stepping into the arena of combating human trafficking. The nation continues to revise, enhance and adopt new strategies to its policies to fight against human trafficking in Oman.

– Ricardo Silva
Photo: Flickr

Renewable Energy in Morocco Inspires Investments

Renewable energy in MoroccoMorocco has long been considered the jewel in the crown of African nations in its substantial effort in the transition to renewable, green energy. The North African country currently relies on green energy for 37% of its national usage. It has taken strong strides to alleviate its dependence on fossil fuels. To replicate this success for the continent, the African Development Bank (AfDB) is pursuing investment for regional interconnected green energy projects.

Morocco’s Commitment to a Greener Future

Morocco’s recent innovations have only been possible through a manageable scheme of commitments in transitioning to renewable, green energy production.  The Ouarzazate Solar Power Plant is one stand-out achievement. It is the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world to date.

Today Morocco’s access to electricity is at a monumental 100% nationwide. This success was spearheaded by the actions taken by the Moroccan government, particularly in the the 1990s.  It recognized the alarming state of energy poverty, especially in the rural demographic. Through these actions, the access to electricity has continuously increased, providing the necessary power to reach remote communities, and providing the most basic needs like improved access to water.

Of course, significant outside investment enabled these substantial advancements in Morocco’s renewable energy. For example, in 2012  the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy and ACWA Power signed a contract that promised $900 million to initiate the first project at Quarzazate. Since then, Morocco has continued to lay the foundation for future sustainable projects. Morocco is planning to increase its share of renewables to 52% by 2030, 70% by 2040 and 80% by 2050.  

COVID-19 Hurts African Access to Electricity

Unfortunately, Africa’s energy production does not reflect Morocco’s innovation and future security with renewable energy.  Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, struggles to provide reliable electricity to its more than a billion inhabitants.  Further, after making some strides from 2015 – 2019 to increase electric accessibility by 9%, COVID-19 squashed that progress. Specifically, Africa follows the global trend of losing momentum in reducing energy since 2020 due to COVID-19’s disruption. According to the International Energy Association, “Sub-Saharan Africa’s share of the global population without access to electricity rose to 77% from 74% before the pandemic.” 

African Development Bank Pushes Renewables

A lack of investment in renewable energy projects across Africa is central to continued energy poverty. That’s why in a bid to kick-start future renewable green energy investment across the continent, the AfDB has made clear its intentions to bolster its partnership with China for investment in the renewable energy sector. China is investing in the Africa Growing Together Fund for energy and infrastructure projects.

Daniel Schroth, Director of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department of AfDB, emphasizes that the African continent has a wealth of renewable potential in solar, wind, geothermal and wind. He advocates for an integrated system because as he notes, “The sun might not be shining in one part but not in other parts. The wind might be blowing in one part but not in the other parts. If you integrate them into one system, you can balance the power use. And so AfDB puts a strong emphasis on critical regional interconnection projects.”

This strengthening of ties represents just one of the commitments that the AfDB expects to deliver. In 2021, it announced the second phase of its Desert to Power initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 250 million people by the year 2030.  As stated in its executive summary, the project strives to, “harness the vast solar power potential across the Sahel region to provide access to electricity and enable socio-economic development as well as resilience in the region.”

Looking Forward

Despite COVID-19 setbacks, it is clear that Africa is ramping up its renewable energy pursuit through programs such as AfDB’s Desert to Power and through courting investors such as China. This drive, influenced by the successful renewable energy program in Morocco, should make significant strides in reducing energy poverty across the continent.

– Jamie Garwood
Photo: Flickr

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Poverty in the United Kingdom

POVERTY IN THE UNITED KINGDOMThe United Kingdom has a population of approximately 68 million people, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet and live in poverty. As of the parliament’s most recent studies in 2022, nearly one in five people live in poverty in the United Kingdom.

The Issue of Poverty

The issue of poverty has been a problem that has long plagued the United Kingdom. Many of these issues can be attributed to a decade of public service cuts. This has pushed many families to the brink of poverty and many others into poverty.

As of 2021, the poverty rate among working households is as high as it has ever been in Britain. Due to steadily increasing property prices, private sector rent hikes and record childcare costs, working families are adopting unhealthy lifestyles and using high-cost credit to pay off debts.

Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, a member of IPPR’s welfare state advisory panel states that these families “are trying as hard as they can but still finding it impossible to feed their families and provide a safe roof over their heads,” the Big Issue reports.

Many of these factors are financially related, such as spiraling housing costs among low-income households, as well as low wages and modest pay rises, according to The Guardian. Other factors are systemically based, such as a constant lack of flexible as well as affordable childcare and a social security system that has proven unable to keep up with rising rental costs. Families who are unable to buy a home have to rent from private landlords. These systemic issues affect them the worst due to a benefits system that rewards landlords as opposed to its citizens.

The Impact on Children

According to The Children Society of the United Kingdom, 4.3 million children live in poverty in the United Kingdom, as of 2021. These children are less likely to have a strong support system around them, due to their guardians devoting their energy to surviving with the few resources they have. This could put these children at an increased risk of homelessness, addiction and exploitation by criminal gangs, according to the Big Issue.

Solutions

Most experts agree that the key to reducing the poverty rate in the United Kingdom is reforming the welfare system. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) feels that “without long-term reforms, the government will face a perpetual choice between paying constantly rising social security bills or allowing the number of working families in poverty to increase unchecked, as is currently the case,” the Big Issue reports.

Thankfully, there are numerous organizations that are hard at work to ensure that the cycle of poverty in the United Kingdom comes to an end. The organization at the forefront of that fight is Oxfam. Since its establishment in 1942 it has been committed to “a kinder, fairer world – a world less divided by borders, money, race or gender” said Oxfam’s CEO Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah.

In the year 2021 alone, Oxfam assisted 12.8 million people who were at risk or facing poverty. With these far-reaching efforts in the face of such daunting statistics and the continued fight of the British people, the future of the United Kingdom appears much brighter than in recent memory.

– Austin Hughes
Photo: Flickr

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Girls Not Brides is Working to End Child Marriage

Girls Not Brides Girls Not Brides is an international nonprofit that works to end child marriage around the world. The organization is an initiative founded in 2011 by The Elders, a group of senior statesmen and human rights advocates brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela. Girls Not Brides has been working for over a decade to bring the issue of child marriage to the forefront of the government’s attention.

What is Child Marriage?

The term ‘child marriage’ refers to any formal or informal union between a child under the age of 18, and an adult or another child. According to the Girls Not Brides Atlas, the three countries with the highest rates of child marriage as of 2020 are Niger, Central African Republic and Chad. Currently, one in five girls worldwide are married before they are 18, which is a decrease from 10 years ago when one in four girls were victims of the practice. Despite this reduction, the practice still remains very prevalent in certain places. Child marriage can be the result of grave gender inequality, as the frequency of the tradition amongst boys is one sixth of that amongst girls.

Child marriage is also largely driven by poverty, as girls can pose as financial burdens to their families and are married to help relieve fiscal pressure. Girls believe that marriage is the key to securing their futures and sometimes drop out of school before they receive secondary education and begin their lives as wives. In some communities, marriage at a younger age can mean a lower expense. It is customary in different cultures for the girl’s family to ask for money in exchange for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Younger brides tend to go for higher rates, which serves as an incentive for impoverished families to sell their daughters as soon as they can.

The Dangers of Child Marriage

The practice of child marriage has devastating effects on the girls who fall victim. Girls married under the age of 15 are 50% more likely to suffer from domestic violence than those married at a later age. Child marriage can result in girls having sex before they are emotionally and physically ready and is a key driver of adolescent pregnancy, which carries its own health risks. When a girl enters a marriage, she is usually expected to drop out of school and tend to the home and eventually, the children.

If and when girls are ready to return to school, they are faced with barriers such as household responsibilities and a lack of educational and social preparation. In fact, school closures due to the pandemic have exposed 10 million more girls to child marriage as isolation and rising financial instability have driven families to turn to child marriage in order to cope with the economic challenges that came with COVID-19.

How Girls Not Brides is Working to End Child Marriage

Girls Not Brides is working to end child marriage in a multitude of ways. Not only does it work to prevent child marriage, but it also amplifies the voices of current and potential victims. Girls Not Brides strives to bring awareness to the problem by encouraging informed discussions about the topic on local, national, and international levels. As of 2020, Girls Not Brides is made up of more than 1,500 members from 104 countries around the world and has advocated across multiple platforms and top-tier media outlets.

Girls Not Brides offers in-person and online workshops in order to enlighten people on child marriage and educate them in ways they can help. It also mobilizes various political and financial supporters to help further its cause.

A Look Ahead

The nonprofit comprises of 1,400 civil society organizations around the world and works with a range of stakeholders and partners to ensure that its message is being heard. Girls Not Brides is working to end child marriage so that girls everywhere can grow up to reach their full potential, and is bringing light to an issue that is often overlooked but extremely important.

–Ava Lombardi 
Photo: Flickr

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Rising Youth Unemployment in China

Youth Unemployment in ChinaAt the end of June 2022, statistics showed that youth unemployment in China was rising significantly to an unprecedented level of 19.3%. This is partly due to the slow growth (only 0.4%) of the Chinese economy in the second quarter of this year. Such a worrying scene could require powerful solutions.

Reasons Behind Rising Youth Unemployment in China

Nearly one in five young men is unemployed in China, a country with the second largest economy in the world. One of the greatest contributors to youth unemployment in China was the pandemic and the government’s relative lockdown policies. As the Chinese government made tight policies to control the number and spread of COVID-19 cases, major cities including Shanghai experienced large-scale lockdowns, affecting many economic activities.

For example, the retail sales in China have decreased considerably by 11.1%, which was its highest contraction value since March 2020, according to the BBC. An executive at Huawei, Richard Yu, has expressed his worry that if the lockdown persisted, the whole “technology, industrial and automobile supply chains” would come to a full shutdown. The poor performance of the economy in the pandemic made unemployment become more widespread.

Also, due to the Chinese government’s policies since 2021, most extracurricular tutoring was banned in China to lower pressure and discourage competition among Chinese students. However, as many private tutoring institutions had to shut down, teachers lost their source of income.

Chinese Government’s Effort to Solve the Problem

Fortunately, youth employment in China is not at a dead end. Circumstances can get better for those young people who are desperately seeking jobs.

The Chinese government was aware of this problem and already implemented some measures. On the one hand, the government made it compulsory for state-owned businesses and institutions to create new jobs for young graduates from higher education. On the other hand, universities are opening up temporary positions for their own graduates as emergency support, according to NZZ.

The Future

Although the unemployment figure was high in June, the Chinese labor market has already started to revive slowly since May. It may take some time for the reviving effect to lower the youth unemployment rate. As the government started to focus on tackling this problem for the younger generation, it started to provide subsidies and guaranteed loans for small businesses to help them overcome the financial difficulties that came with the pandemic lockdowns.

It was clear that the strict lockdown policies in China limited economic performance instantly. However, the economy is recovering steadily since the end of the second quarter of 2022. Consumer expenditures, including the key Chinese industry—vehicles, have experienced an impressive boost since June. In fact, economists from other countries still give high expectations for China’s future economic growth.

Hopefully, a more thriving economy could benefit the job market and ease the pressing problem of youth unemployment in China very soon.

– Ella Li
Photo: Flickr

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E-Health Platform in Côte d’Ivoire

E-Health PlatformIn June 2022, Côte d’Ivoire became the first Sub-Saharan country to benefit from Orange Santé. It is an e-health platform that serves both patients and doctors with facilities such as online appointment booking, digital medical records, teleconsultations, etc. Orange Santé is the product of a partnership between Orange and DabaDoc. Dabadoc is a recent Morrocan start-up that aims to “democratize access to health care with its practice management solution and disruptive online booking technology.” This e-health platform in Côte d’Ivoire could help solve many issues within the health care sector.

Health Care in Côte d’Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, the public health care system is lacking. First and foremost, the hospitals and medical centers are understaffed, with only one doctor per 10,000 inhabitants. This makes Côte d’Ivoire one of Africa’s weakest countries in regard to health care. In addition, the staff are reportedly poorly trained and nurses are sometimes referred to as doctors. In order to become a doctor in Côte d’Ivoire, a prospective student must take exams to be entered into the Institut National de Formation des Agents de Santé (INFAS).

Retired doctor, Dr. Koné E, said that it is common for a family to bribe the department that proctors the exam, so the child is able to pass. In his interview with Africa Blogging, he also said this strengthens the claim that in Côte d’Ivoire, “money is at the forefront of everything.” Thus, the lack of proper training results in inadequate care for the patients that are able to see a doctor.

According to Africa Blogging, health centers in Côte d’Ivoire are more focused on money than their patients. Health centers accept patients “only on the presentation of banknotes, whatever their condition is.” Socio-political situations from 1999 and the post-election crisis in 2010 had a negative impact on the health care system in the country. The social protection system in Côte d’Ivoire only covers costs for “occupational accidents and illnesses.” This attitude of valuing the pay more than the patient, however, led to incidents of fatal medical negligence in health care facilities, Africa Blogging reports.

Renovating Health Care in Côte d’Ivoire

The e-health platform in Côte d’Ivoire, Orange Santé, could be the starting point for renovating health care in the country. This platform digitized medical records to contribute to the organization and patient history. Doctors can better serve their patients with knowledge of and access to their complete medical history. Institut National de Formation des Agents de Santé aims at Ivorian health care facilities, allowing them to be listed on its platform. The platform then aids the member facilities with online booking and managing their digital medical records, so the facilities improve their organization and visibility. Patients are able to see a variety of specialists and choose with whom they would like to consult.

The Future

By 2023, Orange Santé plans to add other services to the Côte d’Ivoire platform such as remote consultations and also expand to other Sub-Saharan countries. The lack of medical infrastructure helps facilitate the shortage of healthcare. An e-health platform in Côte d’Ivoire with online consultations could solve this issue by not requiring any buildings to serve patients in need of care. Remote parts of the country that have scarce health care could no longer be at a disadvantage and more people could have access to proper healthcare.

– Jordan Oh
Photo: Flickr

Floods in Suriname Increased Need for Aid

Floods in Suriname
Unprecedented levels of flooding struck dozens of villages in the South American country of Suriname, an already impoverished country, in April 2022. As of June 24, the water had yet to recede. The floods affected more than 3,000 households, as well as businesses and schools. Countries such as China and the Netherlands have provided some financial support, but the country still needs more help. The upcoming dry season, when the waters should recede, remains the biggest cause of hope to ease the impacts of the floods in Suriname.

Impacts of the Flooding

Increased rainfall caused the floods in Suriname over the course of 2022, leading to rivers overflowing their banks. This affected 3,000 homes in seven districts, France24 reported. Floods due to rising water levels damaged numerous farms. In a country with 26% of people living on less than $5.50 a day as of 2022, most people who have suffered damage to their homes cannot afford repairs.

Farmers in Suriname have suffered damages as well. Many lost complete fields or yields of crops, leaving them with little to no income for the foreseeable future. This has led such farmers to depend on government aid to financially support themselves. As a result of the increased need for aid from both farmers and non-farmers, the government of Suriname has looked to other countries for additional aid.

Incoming Foreign Aid

Many countries have already answered the call for help, including China, which donated $50,000 to Suriname on June 21. In addition, the Netherlands also pledged €200,000 through UNICEF, France24 reported. Even Suriname’s fellow South American country Venezuela, no stranger to economic problems of their own, provided 40,000 tons of food and medicine in an effort to help. The distribution began in the last week of June. Guyana is another country primed to send aid to Suriname in the form of essential food items.

On May 25, 2022, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) agreed to provide access to health care in some regions affected by floods in Suriname. This access to health care will be essential in the recovery process, as many people in Suriname cannot currently afford any kind of medical attention.

Looking Ahead

As Suriname awaits more aid from additional countries and international organizations, a large source of optimism is the upcoming dry season. The country hopes it could lead to the end of the large amounts of rainfall, causing the rivers to return to normal levels.

There is not much one can do to stop the flooding. However, there are many ways to help the people affected. The countries that have pledged aid are a great start and more countries look ready to do the same. Overall, it seems that the people of Suriname may soon see an end to this tragedy.

– Thomas Schneider
Photo: Pixabay

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The Necessity of Vaccine Diplomacy

Vaccine DiplomacyWhile the COVID-19 vaccine has helped to reduce destruction and devastation from the pandemic, the virus is still spreading across the globe. According to Dr. Peter Hotez “organized hostility against the scientific community,” may be public health’s biggest enemy. However, on a global scale, the most serious threat is the lack of vaccine diplomacy and effective health care in geopolitics. Solving this crisis requires the United States and other western countries to prioritize the distribution of pandemic response resources so that everyone can lead healthy, safe lives regardless of their location.

Inequities of Vaccine Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the global death rate by 20%, shut down economies and dismantled health care systems across the world. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine is now readily available in many developed countries, many low-income countries remain highly unvaccinated while the United States eases pandemic funding. With monkeypox cases on the rise, the fight against global health crises has hit a major roadblock, as low-income countries are scrambling for vaccine resources amid slowing economies.

Developed countries have a humanitarian responsibility to ensure that low-income countries have access to the healthcare resources that North American and European countries have. Additionally, novel variants of COVID-19 often arise from unvaccinated populations, which means that the pandemic will only worsen unless we make a concerted effort to fully vaccinate developing and low-income countries, according to Dr. Hotez.

Making a Commitment to Vaccine Diplomacy

Today, less than 20% of people in low-income countries have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The next step is for the United States and other world leaders to provide more resources to help get shots into people’s arms in developing countries. According to The Borgen Project’s action center, “This essential funding will go towards vaccines, tests, last-mile efforts and treatment so we can continue vaccinating the rest of the world, save lives and prevent new variants from emerging.” It’s an important investment that will not only save the lives of people in the most vulnerable places across the globe but will also help to protect the well-being of Americans.

Overall, vaccine diplomacy is also necessary to conquer vaccine skepticism, which is keeping millions of people from getting vaccinated. In order to effectively fight against the worsening global health crisis of COVID-19 and monkeypox, the United States and other economic powerhouses should prioritize geopolitical cooperation with developing countries to collaborate on equitably distributing vaccine resources.

– Ella DeVries
Photo: Flickr

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Food Crisis in Sri Lanka

Food Crisis in Sri Lanka
Record inflation and soaring fuel costs are igniting a food crisis in Sri Lanka. Skyrocketing prices leave more than 6 million Sri Lankans food insecure. Because people are not certain when their next meal will be, they reduce their food intake and that results in their poor nutrition. The health of Sri Lankan pregnant women and children is particularly at risk due to a lack of quality nutrition.

Sri Lanka Food Crisis Specifics

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), about three out of 10 households (nearly 6.26 million Sri Lankans) are uncertain of where their next food will come from. More than 60% of households are resorting to rationing their food and do not obtain sufficient nutrition. As one Sri Lankan woman  said, “These days, we don’t have a proper meal but eat only rice and gravy.” In June 2022, WFP Deputy Regional Director for Asia and Pacific Anthea Webb explained, “Pregnant mothers need to eat nutritious meals every day, but the poorest find it harder and harder to afford the basics.”

At an astonishing rate of 57.4% inflation, increasing food prices have resulted in two out of five households living without enough food to support their families. In the “farming estates sector” which includes tea plantations and other similar “estates,” more than half of households live with food insecurity. These households are worse off than urban populations and other rural dwellers. Rural and urban households are depleting their savings or using credit to buy essentials. “Poor families in cities and those who work on estates have seen their incomes plummet while market prices have soared,” a WFP spokesperson commented.

Stories of Family Struggles

Perhaps one can better understand Sri Lanka’s food crisis by hearing about family struggles. Chandrika Manel, a mother of four children, expresses how crucial the situation is when she says, “even buying bread is a struggle. There are times I [give them] milk and rice, but we don’t cook any vegetables. They’re too expensive.” Sahna, a pregnant 34-year-old who has three children and is due in September, is nervous about the future, uttering, “My children are miserable. They’re suffering in every possible way. I can’t even afford a packet of biscuits or milk for my babies.” Acute malnutrition could increase dramatically from 13% to 20%. Further, the current 35,000 malnourished children could double according to Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, President of the Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association.

UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is appealing for significant funds to hold off a humanitarian crisis. UNICEF found that depleting gas and medical supplies forced 70% of Sri Lankan families to reduce their food intake in 2022. “We’re trying to avoid a humanitarian crisis. We’re not yet at children dying, which is good, but we need to get the support very urgently to avoid that,” said Christian Skoog, UNICEF’s representative in Sri Lanka.

On the positive side, UNICEF has noted a sense of solidarity and community among Sri Lankans.  For example, Pastor Moses Akash began a community kitchen a month ago after meeting a single mother who survived off of jackfruit for three days. Akash meets people who have not had a meal in four months and believes the number of people waiting in line for food will increase from 50 to 250 a day because of the up-to-80% increase in food prices in June.

WFP Taking the Lead to Combat Sri Lanka’s Food Crisis

To address Sri Lanka’s food crisis, humanitarian organizations are taking the lead. The WFP kick-started an emergency relief fund of $60 million for food and nutrition to help 3 million who are in vulnerable sectors like women and children. Each month the WFP gives $40 meal vouchers to pregnant women in impoverished areas. The WFP also collaborates with local governments that provide prenatal care. Thus far, the organization has provided 88% of the 2,375 vouchers to assist 3 million people with food, sustenance and school lunches. Going against this support, 61% of Sri Lankan households are using the approach of lowering the quantity of food consumption and obtaining more food with less nutrition. Unfortunately, the food relief agency expects an estimate of 200,000 families will use that approach as the crisis continues.

The US announces $20 million in Additional Assistance for Sri Lanka’s Food Security

On July 5, 2022, at the G7 Summit in Germany, United States President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. committed to an additional $20 million in aid to Sri Lanka to feed more than 800,000 children and 27,000 pregnant women in the next 15 months. The relief grant encourages strong school nutrition for students and includes meal tickets for pregnant women. The plan also supports 30,000 croppers to improve cultivation in impoverished communities that are living in debt. U.S Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung underlined that the United States is devoted to food security, public health and promoting economic stability for the people of Sri Lanka. She commented, “This aid will feed Sri Lankan children, combat food insecurity and demonstrates our enduring commitment to the health & well-being of the Sri Lankan people.”

Despite the catapulting of inflation which can threaten the health of children and expecting mothers, humanitarian organizations including the World Food Programme and the United Nations are leading the way in avoiding a humanitarian crisis. The U.S. response to the food crisis in Sri Lanka also improves the odds of avoiding a dire humanitarian crisis.

– Jacara Watkins
Photo: Flickr