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Everything You Need to Know About Hunger in Kashmir

Hunger in KashmirKashmir, a region between India and Pakistan, is known for its breathtaking landscapes. However, beneath this beauty lies a harsh reality: widespread hunger. Here is a deeper look into how hunger has become one of the most pressing issues in Kashmir.

Political Conflict

For decades, Kashmir has been a victim of political instability. Ongoing conflicts have left deep scars on Kashmir’s infrastructure and economy. Constant enforcement of strikes, curfews and road blockages have prevented the free movement of food supplies, cutting off access to essential resources. This pressing issue disproportionately impacts rural communities and intensifies existing challenges.

The disruption of transportation networks leads to inevitable food shortages, triggering a chain reaction affecting daily life and the locals’ normalcy. Moreover, Kashmir’s economy heavily relies on its agricultural industry to support its financial independence. However, farmers are often unable to sow or harvest under the instability of conflict, leading to further uncertainty in food availability.

Climate Emergencies

In addition to the political turmoil, Kashmir is facing another key issue: the mounting pressure of climate instability. Specifically targeting the agricultural industry, erratic weather patterns have become the norm. Unexpected droughts and unseasonal rains are becoming increasingly common, increasing food prices and reducing yields. Farmers who have previously relied on winter snowmelt for irrigation are now met with the unpredictable nature of modern-day winters that bring either too little snow or none at all, resulting in shortages in crop production and water shortages.

Poverty and Rising Unemployment

In Kashmir, the ongoing conflict has severely paralyzed job opportunities, demonstrating an unemployment crisis, particularly among the youth. As food prices rise and stable job opportunities continue to plummet, families are forced to make difficult decisions about their consumption needs. The crushing reality of poverty means that even if food is available, many decide against purchasing it because they can not afford it. According to the Kashmir Welfare Foundation, approximately 40% of Kashmir’s population lives below the poverty line, with food insecurity contributing heavily to the issue.

The Impact of Harsh Winters

Winters in Kashmir are not just cold, they are crippling. As soon as temperatures start to drop, agricultural activities come to a halt. For families living in remote areas, the winter months bring isolation for long periods, with limited access to food and fresh produce. Hunger peaks in Kashmir during these months and it is often the most vulnerable groups—such as women, children and older people— that are affected the most. Without access to proper storage systems or supply chains, winters in Kashmir become a season of dread.

Solutions and Hope on the Horizon

Various international organizations are working in the region via aid and food security programs to provide immediate relief. The Kashmir Welfare Foundation is one organization that actively works on food security programs, reaching thousands of families with food aid and livelihood support. It also calls for an interest in better technology and government to protect the Kashmiri agricultural industry and those who rely on it.

Another key player is CHINAR Kashmir, a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the region’s marginalized children, women and families. One of its flagship initiatives is the CHINAR Home Program. The program offers a safe and nurturing environment for orphaned and vulnerable children. It provides them with health care, nutrition, education and emotional support. Additionally, in response to natural disasters, CHINAR Kashmir offers immediate relief by distributing food and other necessities to affected families, addressing acute hunger crises during emergencies.

Through these efforts, CHINAR Kashmir and the Kashmir Welfare Foundation are helping to improve access to basic rights and essential services. They empower the region’s most vulnerable populations and build hope for a better future.

– Mashal Aman

Mashal is based in Kyoto City, Japan and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Poverty and Terrorism: How Economic Inequality Fuels Extremism

How Poverty Fuels TerrorismThe link between poverty and terrorism is complex, involving economic, political and social factors that drive individuals toward extremism. Economic hardship can create environments where extremist groups thrive, as they often exploit the vulnerability of impoverished communities to gain followers. When individuals lack access to stable employment, education and necessities, the appeal of joining extremist movements increases as these groups often promise income, food and social belonging. Understanding the connection between poverty and terrorism is crucial for crafting effective counterterrorism strategies that address root causes rather than just symptoms.

Economic Hardship as a Driver of Extremism

Studies indicate that poverty-stricken regions are more susceptible to terrorism due to the economic vulnerability of their populations. With limited job opportunities and scarce resources, extremist groups can lure impoverished individuals with promises of financial support and security. For instance, research from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found that economic factors played a significant role in driving individuals to join extremist groups. Poverty and unemployment create a fertile environment for radicalization as individuals seek stability and hope in regions where governmental support is lacking.

Social Marginalization and Lack of Education

Poverty often coincides with a lack of educational opportunities, which further exacerbates vulnerability to extremist ideologies. Without access to education, individuals are more susceptible to radical propaganda, as they may lack the critical thinking skills to resist extremist narratives. Alongside this, poor education systems can create a failure to address poverty and unemployment. Addressing educational inequality can be a significant tool in reducing susceptibility and root causes of extremist recruitment.

Political Instability and Weak Institutions

Economic hardship is often intertwined with political instability, as poverty-stricken regions frequently lack robust institutions capable of maintaining law and order. In regions with weak governance, extremist groups can step in to provide services such as food distribution, security and basic health care, essentially becoming a de facto government. This creates a power vacuum that extremist groups exploit, using economic incentives to gain loyalty and recruit members. For instance, areas like the Sahel region in Africa have seen an increase in terrorism partly due to the inability of local governments to provide essential services.

Displacement and Refugee Crises

Poverty exacerbates displacement, which in turn fuels terrorism by creating large populations of vulnerable, dislocated individuals who may turn to extremism out of desperation. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that displaced populations face extreme economic hardship, often living in dire conditions with limited access to food, shelter and safety. Extremist groups, recognizing this desperation, target refugee camps and displaced communities to recruit new members with promises of stability and sustenance. Compared to only a decade ago, the number of refugees worldwide has more than tripled. Making it more important than ever to address the basic needs of displaced populations to reduce the risk of extremist recruitment.

Economic Development as a Tool Against Terrorism

Countering terrorism requires a multidimensional approach that includes addressing poverty through economic development programs. By investing in job creation, education and infrastructure, governments and international organizations can reduce the appeal of extremist groups. The United Nations advocates for initiatives that focus on youth employment and educational programs that offer alternatives to terrorism. In Africa and the Middle East, for example, initiatives that promote vocational training have helped safeguard youth against extremist ideologies by providing economic opportunities outside of radical groups.

Conclusion

The relationship between poverty and terrorism highlights the need for holistic counterterrorism strategies that address socioeconomic factors. Tackling poverty, improving educational access, strengthening governance and supporting displaced populations are all crucial steps in reducing the appeal of extremist ideologies. Furthermore, by addressing these underlying issues, the global community can work toward a future where economic stability undermines terrorism’s grip on vulnerable populations.

– Harriet Conway

Harriet is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Libyan Higher Education as an Example of Academic Resilience

Libyan Higher EducationFollowing the 2011 Arab Spring, Libya experienced the dissolution of the long-time dictatorial regime of Muammar Gaddafi, culminating in showings of mass violence. Prior to the Arab Spring uprisings, Libya primarily held an isolationist view of education, limiting academic collaboration to within the nation’s 30 universities and actively working against English language academic research.

Throughout the 2011-2012 period, several Libyan academics abroad praised the removal of the Gaddafi regime as a way to increase academic research and standing for Libyan universities around the world. There was genuine hope for the future, particularly with the announcement of the Tripoli University Program for Rebuilding Libya in 2012. Following the university’s reopening, the program set out four main goals:

  1. Develop a nationwide civic education strategy through Libya’s primary universities.
  2. Establish a university communication and outreach production unit.
  3. Create a platform to support the role of women during the transition.
  4. Provide online civic education and professional development courses for women, disadvantaged groups, civil servants, the voluntary sector and development staff.

Within the first year, events overwhelmed the proposal. The proposed reforms may have been considered “tone-deaf” and portrayed a general political aim instead of an attempt to stabilize the Libyan higher education system in the wake of recent conflict.

Current State of Libyan Higher Education

Following years of civil war within the country, Libya remains in a political stalemate with the United Nations (U.N.) calling for a peaceful, Libyan-led shift to democratic power. While the government sits at a standstill, the same can not be said of higher education. Libya’s nation-state boasts more than 20 universities, with access intended to reach the urban-rural divide.

Mainly built during the Gaddafi regime, the resources accessible to the institutions were dependent on their location regarding urban centers with the modern elite of the political party. It has to be noted that due to the political upheaval surrounding the past decade, more than 200,000 Libyan students have had their education interrupted or delayed and some even ceased altogether.

After the 2011 civil war, university resources became more scarce and the funds necessary to pay staff and faculty became contentious. In 2023, the faculty at the University of Tripoli staged a two-month sit-in, protesting the lack of pay and benefits received. The protests were exacerbated after the University needed to close temporarily due to political violence spilling onto campus grounds. Several universities stood in solidarity with the University of Tripoli, including the University of Benghazi. The strike would experience extremes, including when armed forces kidnaped a leader of the General Syndicate of University Teaching in an attempt to stop the strike.

During the Tripoli-based violence, the University of Benghazi was set to receive a visit from the World Federation for Medical Education regarding the university’s QS ranking for 2023. Beyond the delay of international recognition, the University of Benghazi suffered property damage to the campus within the past decade of civil war. And while action has been taken to mitigate portions of the damages, the campus, like many others, remains in disrepair.

Continued Barriers to Higher Education

As Libyan universities attempt to make education accessible despite political instability, several barriers restrict students’ access to higher education. Due to the political upheaval, there is a risk of violence bleeding onto university campuses, which has occurred as local militias become “university guards.” These militia members are under nonexistent supervision and reportedly have caused more harm than good. There have been several instances from multiple universities that show a pervasiveness of harassment by militia members on university campuses. Harassment and violence escalated in several cases to the point in which female students have been unable to attend lessons and, as such, delayed or hindered their education.

While political violence and uncertainty surrounding portions of the country explain issues involving militias and campus-based harassment, conflict-related hindrances are not the only barriers to higher education (and education in general); language remains a pervasive barrier. Within Libya, there is a minority population of Amazigh (“Berbers”) who speak the Tamazight language. Speakers of the Tamazight language cross several national lines, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and specifically the Siwa Oasis within Egypt. The Gaddafi regime, which titled itself the Libyan Arab People’s Jamahiriya, created clear ethnic and linguistic lines that have yet to be meaningfully rectified.

Hope for the Future

Throughout the continued violence and contested ideas of a national government, Libyan academia has persevered. Several studies within the last decade are attributed to Libyan academics, specifically within the realm of climate science and resilience studies. While resources and funding are scarce, professors have continued to research significant local and global issues while simultaneously teaching in universities that can not be guaranteed to protect them from violence. Libyan academics have continued to pursue knowledge throughout more than a decade of adversity, showing strength and tenacity in the face of conflicts.

– Jamie Sackett

Jamie is based in Hutto, TX, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Hunger and Anxiety Amid Uncertainty: Food Insecurity in Haiti

Food Insecurity in HaitiOn May 28, 2024, after the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the interim rule of Michel Patrick Boisvert, Gary Conille, a United Nations (U.N.) Development Specialist and former Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been named Haiti’s Prime Minister. This transition in leadership comes at a critical time for Haiti, which has long grappled with political instability and gang violence. Several international actors hope that the new leadership will be able to bring structure and legitimacy to the national government amid the violence within the nation while addressing extreme violence and its impact on food insecurity in Haiti.

General State of Food Insecurity in Haiti

According to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) report, more than four million Haitians are affected by food insecurity, with nearly 1.5 million requiring urgent aid to survive. The cost of food in Haiti has been rising at an unsustainable rate, with average prices being 30-70% higher than in other Caribbean countries. This increase is due to a steady decline in agricultural production caused by years of land degradation and severe deforestation, which has led to an increased demand for imports.

Within the capital city of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding metropolitan area, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the WFP has played a crucial role by providing necessary food assistance for those who have been internally displaced due to gang violence. Currently, there are more than 80 displacement camps within the area and the WFP has directly given aid to nearly 100,000 persons in need.

Environmental Challenges

Haiti is predominantly tropical and mountainous, with 65% of its land considered suitable for agriculture. However, due to extreme deforestation for farming and fuel purposes, the country’s arable land has lost necessary nutrients and root patterns, which allow for healthy soil and seed stability. Additionally, being located in the hurricane belt, the country experiences severe storms and frequent major flooding, worsening the environmental challenges.

The extreme environmental degradation of traditional farmland has led Haiti to increase importation. The country imports more than 700,000 tonnes of rice and wheat for consumption, as agricultural production has been halted or delayed due to current violence. A way to increase food production and assist in replenishing arable land is to develop the average one-quarter-hectare farms to model bush and tree-based permaculture.

Permaculture can be defined as the development of agriculture in an environment that promotes biodiversity and the incorporation of crops into the general ecosystem; permaculture has been shown to improve environmental stability by protecting necessary topsoil erosion and increasing nutrients within soil compositions.

The practice of permaculture has seen success in the Caribbean, with farms in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Cuba. These examples show an increase in equitable treatment of laborers and the distribution of resources, which contrasts with the current Haitian model of agriculture, where only 60.9% of farmers have access to mechanized assistance and irrigation.

Political Challenges

On March 4, 2024, Haiti declared a state of emergency after more than 3,000 prisoners escaped from its National Penitentiary, located within Port-au-Prince. By April, the violence being perpetrated by the sum 200 gangs operating within Port-au-Prince had severely limited aid distribution as gangs took control of the only airport as well as the country’s largest port.

After President Jovenel Moise’s assassination in 2021 and the subsequent loss of parliamentary legitimacy, the Haitian government has become increasingly outdated and powerless. In this time of turmoil, Henry governed from abroad through decrees, facing criticism from both Haitian citizens and the international community about his legitimacy.

Sanctions and travel restrictions imposed by the international community severely damaged the country’s growing tertiary market economy. Similarly, the general violence has done nothing but exacerbate food insecurity in Haiti, with only 5% of the population receiving humanitarian aid.

Final Remark on Food Insecurity in Haiti

While the issue of food insecurity in Haiti has several facets, the current state of political instability means that no permanent solutions are viable, as the development and implementation of proper environmental change are time-consuming and arduous. However, in March 2024, the U.N. expressed the need for political stabilization to be developed for and by the Haitian people, with limited international interference.

– Jamie Sackett

Jamie is based in Hutto, TX, USA and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Fragility and Rule of Law in Kashmir

Fragility and Rule of Law in KashmirKashmir is a region in South Asia with disputed territories in India, Pakistan and China. It is known for its diverse and vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, rich music and a wide range of clothing. Located in the Himalayas, Kashmir now stands as a symbol of fragility and the fight for the rule of law due to political disputes.

History

The Jammu and Kashmir territories have been under dispute since the Partition in 1947 when the British Raj withdrew and India and Pakistan separated based on religious divisions. With a Muslim majority, Kashmir had the choice to join either country. Initially planning for independence, the Hindu ruler Maharaja Hari Singh later acceded to India after a tribal invasion, setting the stage for the fragility and ongoing struggles for the rule of law in Kashmir.

However, the Maharaja’s agreement to join India was based on terms outlined in Article 370 and Article 35A. Article 370 granted Kashmir autonomy to create its own Constitution, make laws and have its flag, while Article 35A ensured equal opportunities for Kashmiris in land ownership, employment and assistance. The Indian government deployed its army to counter the tribal invasion and although the United Nations (U.N.) established a ceasefire, both Indian and Pakistani troops remain in the region as of July 2023.

Political System in Kashmir

On August 5th, 2019, the Indian government revoked Articles 370 and 35A. The revocation undermined the rule of law in Kashmir and deprived citizens of the same rights and liberties they once had legal entitlements to. Jammu and Kashmir lost their state status and became Union Territories (UT), regions administered entirely by the central government, further contributing to the political fragility of the region.

Citizens of Jammu and Kashmir have had limited political participation since the last state assembly elections in 2014. While India prides itself on being one of the world’s largest democracies, the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s state status raises concerns about the fragility and the rule of law in Kashmir. With the new UT status, both executive and legislative power rests with the central government and the State Assembly of Kashmir has been dissolved. This lack of representation has led to calls for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

Human Rights Violations

In addition to the ever-changing and fragile system of government, arrests and enforced disappearances of activists and journalists have become increasingly common, undermining the fundamental principle of the rule of law in Kashmir. Notably, journalist Irfan Mehraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency for exposing human rights abuses. 

According to the Free Speech Collective, the arrest of Irfan Mehraj is “an alarming indication of how far the authorities will go to clamp down on independent journalism.” The organization emphasizes the need to stop targeting independent journalists in Kashmir, allowing them to practice their profession without fear or favor.

Furthermore, the government has imposed numerous internet shutdowns, restricting communication and preventing the flow of information. In 2021 alone, Jammu and Kashmir experienced 85 internet shutdowns, violating the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and expression, as ruled by the Indian Supreme Court. This demonstrates the fragility of Kashmir, where the government perceives freedom of the press as a threat. 

Additionally, the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act grants the military broad powers in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to further human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture and rape. These violations often go unpunished, fueling controversy and perpetuating human rights abuses.

Political instability and human rights violations directly contribute to poverty in Kashmir. The region’s militarization, as seen through policies like the Armed Forces Act, is a leading cause. Additionally, 73% of people lack access to health care and 43% of children are out of school. The forced disappearances, violence and arrests have caused distress and instability within family structures, hindering socioeconomic success. Political instability has worsened inflation, with no state government creating opportunities for Kashmiris.

Take Action

Kashmir Action provides a variety of resources to educate individuals about the crisis in Kashmir. The website is run by the organization, Justice For All, which addresses issues and politically mobilizes for causes that have not garnered sufficient international support. For instance, Justice for All advocates for independent Kashmiri media, creates petitions for specific issues in Kashmir, organizes protests and provides educational material. In 2020, the organization reached more than 6 million social media interactions and distributed 75,000 educational brochures. A few ways to support Justice for All include signing petitions, making awareness posts and reading their reports.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development is another organization dedicated to providing direct humanitarian aid to Kashmiris on both sides of the border. It offers resources to those in need through its campaigns across the world. For example, in 2021, the organization provided in-kind gifts to 4,718,872 containing food, furniture, hygiene items, school supplies, medical equipment and clothes. The essential items in the relief kits assist people across the globe living in poverty while alleviating their suffering. Moreover, Helping Hand’s Kashmir Relief Campaign goes to projects such as Winter Relief, Ramadan Food, Water for Life and the Medical In-Kind Gifts Program. These campaigns are especially important for global poverty alleviation as they provide necessities to vulnerable populations in Kashmir. 

Looking Ahead

The people of Kashmir continue to show resilience under the unstable political system and the ongoing human rights violations that undermine the rule of law. Raising awareness of the attacks on human rights is pivotal to garnering international support. While political instability and human rights violations contribute to socio-economic disparities in Kashmir, taking both political actions and donating to humanitarian aid play a crucial role in shaping a brighter future for Kashmir. 

– Mehreen Syed
Photo: Unsplash

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Central African Republic Refugees Return Home

Central African RepublicOne year after repatriation efforts began, refugees from the Central African Republic are returning home. Although repatriation operations began in November 2019, the return of refugees from the Central African Republic was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhanced health and safety precautions made their return possible. The United Nations Refugee Agency, a U.N. agency responsible for protecting refugees, organized the implementation of health and safety precautions. Measures included the use of masks and temperature screening. Handwashing stations were also installed to prevent the spread of disease.

Central African Republic Refugees

Repatriation efforts began after security conditions in the Central African Republic improved. Stability in the country has developed at a slow pace. Less violence in regions of the Central African Republic known for volatile shifts prompted the voluntary return of refugees.

Beginning in 2012, violent confrontations between armed factions throughout the Central African Republic forced more than 500,000 people to flee. Thousands more went into hiding, often in the wilderness, where access to food and clean water is scarce. A staggering rate of poverty among citizens of the Central African Republic reflects years of political instability.

Poverty in the Central African Republic

Both domestically and abroad, refugees from the Central African Republic experience rates of extreme poverty and hunger. The Central African Republic was one of the last two countries on the 2018 Human Development Index ranking. Combined with the political instability of the nation, the Central African Republic’s low development score contributes to the nation’s high rate of poverty.

With a population of a little less than five million people, almost 80% of the country’s people live in poverty. While political instability is a major factor that contributes to the high rate of poverty in the country, meager production rates, insufficient markets and pronounced gender inequality also contribute to the high rate of poverty. Additionally, it is estimated that nearly half of the population of the country experiences food insecurity.

Alarmingly, almost 90% of food insecure individuals in the country are classed as severely food insecure, which is nearly two million people. This has particularly devastating effects for children aged between 6 months and 5 years old. More than one-third of all children within that age range are stunted due to lack of appropriate dietary nutrition.

The World Food Programme Alliance

In partnership with the government of the Central African Republic and other humanitarian organizations, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided emergency food and nutritional assistance to nearly 100,000 people, in 2018. This assistance was delivered to individuals who were affected by the violence that resulted from the coup in 2013, the civil violence that was unleashed by competing factions after the coup and the violence that continued through 2017, as hostility between armed groups was reignited. This method of the WFP’s humanitarian aid involves the distribution of food packages and the implementation of nutrition activities for children and pregnant mothers.

Time will tell whether refugees are returning to a country that will eventually provide for them. Through various initiatives, including Food Assistance for Assets and Purchase for Progress, the WFP hopes to turn civic, humanitarian functions over to the country’s government.

Food Assistance for Assets and Purchase for Progress

Both the Food Assistance for Assets and Purchase for Progress initiatives were designed by the United Nations to help partner nations achieve objectives set by the ‘Zero Hunger’ Sustainable Development Goal. Food Assistance for Assets “addresses immediate food needs through cash, voucher or food transfers.” Its response to immediate needs is paired with a long-term approach. Food Assistance for Assets “promotes the building or rehabilitation of assets that will improve long-term food security and resilience.”

Purchase for Progress works in tandem with Food Assistance for Assets. It is a food purchase initiative, whereby the WFP purchases more than $1 billion worth of staple food annually from smallholder farms. This food is used by the WFP in its global humanitarian efforts. Meanwhile, its ongoing investment in smallholder farms contributes to national economies.

Through the initiatives of the World Food Programme and its dedicated efforts for humanitarian assistance and hunger eradication, the Central African Republic will hopefully reach a point where its citizens never again have to flee the country they call home.

– Taylor Pangman
Photo: Flickr

The Venezuelan Crisis and How the US is Reacting

Venezuelan Crisis
For decades Venezuela’s government and economy have struggled significantly. Entering Venezuela into a search engine will generate links to a multitude of foundations attempting to relieve the Venezuelan Crisis. What is the Venezuelan Crisis and how is the U.S. reacting?

The South American country’s history is full of political and social inequity. Venezuelan leadership has been rocky at best since Simon Bolivar led the country to independence more than 200 years ago. Despite his original constitutional implementations of extremely strict rules such as capital punishment for any public officer guilty of stealing 10 pesos or more from the government, the country quickly fell into corruption.

History of Corruption

The disorder apparent in Venezuela’s contemporary governmental and social climates stems from centuries ago when inefficient leadership set the precedent. The country did not institute a democratic election until 1945. That is more than 130 years after its founding and establishment of the civilian government. Turmoil ensued as Marcos Perez Jimenez, a military figure, overthrew the first elected President Romulo Gallegos within eight months. Admiral Wolfgang Larrazabel, in turn, ousted Jiminez and leftist Romulo Betancourt subsequently took power. This period of rapid regime change defined by government instability and disorganization instilled a distrust that still resonates in the hearts of Venezuelans today.

The trend of unreliable leaders continued until the late 1960s and 1970s when a beacon of light emerged. This age saw much-needed transparency in public assets, contrasting with previous leaders who were heavily corrupt. During this time, other South American countries even began to restructure their governments after the Venezuelan model. However, Venezuela lived this era of tranquility for only a short time because of one man: President Jaime Lusinchi.

Lusinchi served as President from 1984 to 1994. Even in the era of Nicolas Maduro, he stands as the epitome of Venezuelan corruption. In his 10 years as the country’s leader, a corrupt security exchange program stole an alleged $36 billion from the government. Additionally, many accused Lusinchi of stealing from the National Horse Racing Institute to promote the campaign of his successor, Carlos Andres Perez.

Venezuela’s economy functions almost solely on oil exports. The volatility of international oil demands, a market characterized by consistent inconsistency, historically parallels with the state of the Venezuelan market. A booming oil stock in an oil-dependent country naturally creates extraordinary temptation, a temptation that Lusinchi gravely fell into.

Making the national situation worse, the money Lusinchi stole from the government came from a temporary oil surge. Therefore, when oil prices normalized, the economy faced a much more difficult catching up than it would have otherwise.

For many Venezuelans, Lusinchi reopened recent wounds concerning government distrust. This fueled a wave of anger that the famous populist Hugo Chavez harnessed. Lower-class Venezuelans blamed government corruption and greed of the elite for the country’s extreme economic and social issues. The support of this large base played an important role in electing Chavez as President in 1998.

Today’s Dictatorship

To understand the current state of affairs under Maduro, it is vital to understand Chavez’s impact on the Venezuelan Crisis. Chavez’s policies raised (and still raise) enormous controversy as he led using traditionally socialist policies. Under these policies, Venezuela saw a 50 percent reduction in poverty and a dramatic reduction in the unemployment rate.

These policies were only achievable because of a 2004 soar in oil prices in the middle of Chavez’s presidency. His excessive spending on categories like food subsidies, education and health care was only possible through this boom. To get the Venezuelan people to reelect him, Chavez did not scale back these programs to match declining oil prices and set up his country to fail.

In 2014 Venezuelan oil prices crashed, leaving the economy in shambles as Chavez’s programs quickly racked up an enormous deficit. This also started the massive inflation of the Venezuelan bolivar that the country still struggles with today. Following Chavez’s death, Nicolas Maduro gained power in 2014, taking on the responsibility for the economy and deficit. Maduro failed to diversify the oil-rigged economy. This caused the petrostate to fall back into extreme poverty, currently wielding a poverty rate of around 90 percent, double what it was in 2014.

The Council on Foreign Relations quotes Venezuela as “the archetype of a failed petrostate,” describing it as a sufferer of the infamous Dutch disease. The transition to this began back in 1976 when then-President, Carlos Andres Perez, nationalized the oil industry creating the state-owned ‘Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). Chavez’s mismanagement of this company led it to render weak profits. Internal issues such as insider business practices and drug-trafficking also littered the business with corruption. Chavez then sanctioned a series of other national businesses and foreign-owned assets tilting the country towards extreme socialism.

This progression of increased nationalization slowly opened the doors for Maduro to initiate authoritative rule. He abused this power in multiple facets which had devastating consequences on the well-being of the country and its people.

Early in his rule, Maduro placed his supporters in the Venezuelan Supreme Court and replaced the National Assembly with his own Constituent Assembly. Through this cunning, undemocratic move, he essentially eliminated all political opposition and erased any check on his power. This allowed him to pass extremely contentious policy such as the abuse of food importation. Because of Maduro’s extremely poor operation of a socialist economy, hyperbolic inflation rates currently plague the country. While the political elites operate on a 10:1 rate, the rest of the country uses around a 12,000:1.

To make matters worse, Maduro delegated food commerce to the military which has access to the significantly decreased exchange rate. To make enormous profits, it buys food at the 10:1 rate and then sells it domestically at a 12:000:1 rate. The 2017 statistic shows that Venezuelans lost an average of 27 pounds, highlighting the horror of Maduro’s corruption.

What is the US’s position in all of this?

As expected, the U.S. with its long history of an anti-socialist stance disapproves greatly of the Maduro suppressive regime. There is historical friction between the two, which emerged again during Chavez’s time in a battle between capitalist and socialist ideals.

After Maduro’s reelection, the Trump administration grew furious and decided to use aid as a tool against the dictator. In an act of defiance against the U.S., Maduro rejected all supplies from the capitalist power. The U.S. decided to use this move to its advantage, pledging to send copious amounts of humanitarian aid and urging Venezuela’s officials to defy their President’s orders.

As Dylan Baddour states in his article for The Atlantic, “Those who support the mission say that soldiers will be motivated by the impact Venezuela’s crisis is having on their families to switch sides and affect a peaceful transfer of power.” However, not everyone supports this mission because of the U.S.’s bittersweet past regarding Latin American intervention.

Citizens in countries like Chile, Nicaragua and Panama certainly are in living memory of times when American involvement only made matters worse. But as Baddour writes, in a situation as dire as Venezuela’s during the Venezuelan Crisis, “the world’s most powerful country showing up at Venezuela’s border with truckloads of food and medicine is much better than what it has done in the past.”

There is, of course, a concern that Venezuela could transform into the next Syria — where the majority of the population suffers because of one belligerent leader. But if the U.S. takes a proper humanitarian route with its aid, unlike previous attempts, it could do more help than harm. Hopefully, Venezuela will accept aid and transfer power peacefully and efficiently to someone that does not endorse such heinous policies. Until then, the U.S. simply providing its current amount of humanitarian aid is a positive step in the right direction to relive some of the effects of the Venezuelan Crisis.

– Liam Manion
Photo: Flickr

US Helps Fight Food Insecurity in the Central African Republic

Food Insecurity in the Central African RepublicOn July 19, 2017, the United Nations World Food Programme announced that it would donate $11 million, which was contributed by the United States government, in order to help feed approximately 500,000 people in the Central African Republic. The country has experienced many hunger-related problems which makes this donation a positive first step to begin combatting food insecurity in the Central African Republic.

It was reported that the 500,000 people being assisted by the World Food Programme will include displaced people, refugees and students. These groups are considered to be the most disadvantaged groups in the country.

The donation will partly help fund meals in schools in order to help students achieve their educational goals more efficiently and effectively. The relationship between academic success and hunger has been widely studied, and it is often reported that students tend to perform worse in school when they are hungry.

For instance, according to the Global Citizen, it is important that students eat healthy meals in order to succeed, because the brain needs energy to understand information and solve problems. Thus, the World Food Programme’s donation to the Central African Republic will help students focus better on their studies in order to learn the skills that are necessary to thrive as adults.

Furthermore, the Central African Republic has experienced a lot of political instability throughout its history. According to the World Food Programme, “the Central African Republic has the second-to-lowest level of human development in the world.” Many of the people that have been displaced throughout the country have been affected by the violence that has been incited by various rebel groups. Furthermore, there are heightened religious tensions between such groups, which has caused approximately 600,000 people to be displaced.

However, the government of the United States is making an important effort to assist the most disadvantaged groups through the World Food Programme so that food insecurity in the Central African Republic will be addressed and solved. Then, perhaps, other issues can be solved, too.

– Emily Santora

Photo: Flickr

Why Are Palestinian Territories Poor?

Why Are Palestinian Territories PoorIn recent years, the struggle of the Palestinian Territories has become increasingly publicized. The territories, located in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, are the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The increase in attention given to this conflict and related issues often raises the question “why are Palestinian territories poor?”

The Palestinian territory poverty rate is said to be 25 percent of the total population, with an unemployment rate of 27 percent. After the recession in 2014, the World Bank reported in 2015 that the region was becoming poorer for the third consecutive year. Currently, there are three main causes of poverty in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories has created political instability and has been a cause of economic turmoil in the region. One example of this is the Gaza Blockade that Israel instated in the 1990s and intensified in 2007. This blockade severely reduced the mobility of Palestinians in the area and their ability to find work. The trickle-down effect of the blockade (as well as other results of the conflict) is that aid is less accessible for the impoverished in the community.

A secondary, but major, cause of poverty is an increasing unemployment rate, which also stems from the political and economic instability. The May 2017 issue of This Week in Palestine reports that over 400,000 people are unemployed in the two regions of the territory. Most of the unemployed are youths, many of whom are recent graduates. The Palestinian Ministry of Labor is unable to effectively create jobs to solve this unemployment crisis affecting the population.

Issues with infrastructure can be crippling. BBC reported in 2014 that issues with electricity and other infrastructure perpetuate the struggles those in the territories face and can lead to further hardships. A survey from the ADBI Institute, “The Impacts of Infrastructure on Development: A Selective Survey,” stated that “development economists have considered physical infrastructure to be a precondition for industrialization and economic development…” Therefore, with inconsistent electricity comes unreliable healthcare and water supply. The BBC report outlines this by stating “[electricity power cuts] will disturb electricity for the whole population of Gaza; almost two million people will suffer.”

The solution to the question at hand, “why are Palestinian territories poor?”, is not a simple one, nor is it one without political complications. However, the chief of the United Nations, António Guterres, believes that the solution to these causes of poverty in the Palestinian territories lies with the United Nations resolution 1860, which refers to the Security Council resolution from 2009 which called for an immediate end to the fighting between Israel and Hamas and lifting of blockades for food, fuel and medicines. He also believes that immediate and increased humanitarian aid can help uplift and stabilize the region, which in turn gives the people opportunities to create and fill jobs, especially reconstruction-based jobs. The solutions posed by the United Nations could eradicate these causes and alleviate poverty in the Palestinean territories.

– Gabriella Paez

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Corruption: A Consequence of the High Poverty Rate in Liberia

Liberia is a country in West Africa and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Although Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa and has a long running relationship with the U.S., the alarming poverty rate in Liberia cripples growth and exacerbates other issues.

The World Bank’s most recent information on the poverty rate in Liberia, collected in 2007, indicates that around 63 percent of the country lives on less than $1.90 per day (the daily income rate considered the threshold for extreme poverty). Also, as of 2009 the World Bank reported that a colossal 89.6 percent of the population lives on less than $3.10 a day.

These statistics show that a significant majority of Liberia suffers from the absolute worst poverty possible, and nearly everyone in the country struggles from slightly less severe yet punishing conditions of scarcity and desperation.

Unsurprisingly, the alarming poverty rate in Liberia stymies the country’s overall development. The country lacks the infrastructure to reliably provide water and electricity, and sorely lacks the resources or opportunities for widespread education or employment. Overall, these deficiencies stifle the creation of new institutions as well as human and economic development, contributing to other problems such as corruption and instability.

Like many other poverty-stricken countries in Africa, Liberia also contends with frequent political instability and violence. Following a military coup d’etat in 1980, the government of Liberia has been plagued by corruption, irresponsibility and political persecution. Two civil wars in Liberia claimed the lives of 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003.

The country’s political instability may seem surprising considering that Liberia was founded by freed American and Caribbean slaves and has a democratic system of government modeled after the U.S. Unfortunately, the relationship between poverty and corruption creates a seemingly endless cycle that prevents the Liberian government from functioning effectively when the deprived people need it most.

Fortunately, Liberia’s current president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, seems determined to rid the government of corruption and truly help the country. With a long history of opposing unethical behavior and experience working for the World Bank and U.N. President Sirleaf is particularly well qualified to pull Liberia out of hopelessness.

President Sirleaf possesses the strong negotiation skills and political and financial knowledge to tackle the alarming poverty rate in Liberia as well as the corruption it feeds. If President Sirleaf succeeds in revamping Liberia’s economy and rooting out government-level corruption, Liberia may one day live up to the principles of liberty and opportunity that its founders originally sought.

– Isidro Rafael Santa Maria
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