Author: Micaela Fischer

SEATTLE — Like many African countries, Morocco struggles with limited access to water and a lack of proper sanitation methods. With scarce ground-water reserves, the country relies heavily on rainfall to sustain its agricultural practices. As a result, only around 15 percent of Moroccan land is irrigated and about one-third of citizens have access to clean, drinkable water. Furthermore, mismanagement of water quality in Morocco leads to the contamination of otherwise potable water, leaving people vulnerable to waterborne illnesses and infection. Poor infrastructure and disorganization mean 35 percent of all potable water is lost before it ever has the chance…

SEATTLE — Since its secession from Sudan, the infant country of South Sudan has been entrenched in conflict. When the landlocked country joined the ranks of sovereign nations in 2011, it was with the hope that a new era of prosperity and development would be ushered in. Unfortunately, political dissatisfaction thrust South Sudan into a civil war only two years after its establishment, displacing more than one million people and once again throwing the region into chaotic flux. This instability resulted in near-famine conditions and a crumbling education system. Hundreds of schools have been closed, and as a result an…

CARACAS — Since the appointment of Hugo Chavez’s handpicked successor, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been a point of contention for democratic nations worldwide. Maduro’s tightening of repressive policies is indicative of the country’s descent into dictatorship. The latest election, which many accuse of being fraudulent, saw Maduro replace the entirety of the legislative body with a Constituent Assembly of loyalists with plans to rewrite the country’s constitution. In July, Maduro’s actions prompted the U.S. to freeze the assets he has under U.S. jurisdiction with the caveat to expect harsher consequences if his behavior continued. Indeed, early in August the…

DAMASCUS — Adequate healthcare for expectant mothers continues to be a concern for women worldwide. For the better part of a decade, Syria has been ripped to shreds by a civil war between competing religious and political ideologies as well as intervening world powers hoping to have some sway over the outcome. In times of crisis, women suffer uniquely and endure blows to their reproductive health as hospitals become indisposed. Maternal health in Syria and surrounding refugee camps is rapidly declining, resulting in dangerous contraceptive and delivery methods. Before the start of the war, 96 percent of Syrian women had professional…