TACOMA, Washington — Senegal is a country in West Africa that lies along the coast. The nation is home to about 15.7 million people. Poverty is widespread in Senegal, as 46.7% of the population lives below the poverty line. After being elected in 2012, President Macky Sall began to implement new economic policies to improve Senegal’s economy and hopefully alleviate some poverty. The government is currently working on 19 projects as a part of the president’s plan (Emerging Senegal Plan). Senegal has made progress in terms of poverty, but it still has some ways to go. One problem that continues…
Author: Yuki
SEATTLE, Washington — Spread across the European Union (EU), the Roma Travelers are considered the largest minority in the European continent, with roughly six million living in EU states. The Roma have a long history of suffering from racial persecution, leading to socioeconomic struggles that continue to this day. Unfortunately, the effects of COVID-19 on the Roma have only worsened these struggles. Impact of COVID-19 on Romani Communities The worst effects of poverty had plagued Roma communities even before COVID-19 had spread to EU countries. Roughly 80% of all Roma live in inadequate, overcrowded houses, largely in densely populated areas.…
SEATTLE, Washington — “More than two-thirds (68%) of all refugees worldwide came from just five countries”: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia. This article highlights these five countries experiencing a refugee crisis, taking a look at some of the causes in each of these countries as well as what solutions are being offered. Syrian Refugees Syria has the highest number of refugees of these five countries experiencing a refugee crisis. Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the protracted conflict has resulted in 6.2 million displaced Syrian citizens and an additional 5.6 million refugees. According to…
SEATTLE, Washington — With a rapidly urbanizing population, the Pacific island nations are entering this decade unprepared for the challenges it is bound to bring. Although their inhabitants produce around 50% less waste than the average Australian each year, poor waste management and underfunded government services render the existing rate of consumption unsustainable in the long run. Upcycling helps sustainable development in the South Pacific in more ways than one. As rural communities burgeon into towns, many find themselves surrounded by heavily contaminated areas at an understandable risk to health. Simultaneously, this lifestyle incurs high costs. Only 20% of “squatter…
TACOMA, Washington — Honduras is a low-middle-income country in Central America. Recently, it has had the second-highest economic growth rates in Central America, behind Panama. However, poverty and inequality rates remain high. Natural disasters also pose a large threat to the people of Honduras and disproportionately affect the impoverished. With the onset of COVID-19, the vulnerability of the homeless in Honduras has only increased. The Homeless in Honduras About 48.3% of Hondurans live under the poverty line, a number that goes up to 60.1% in rural areas. With the country’s GDP expected to contract due to COVID-19, that number will…
FORT MYERS, Florida — In November 2020, President-Elect Joe Biden nominated Antony Blinken to serve as the new Secretary of State. The position is an important and influential role as the Secretary of State is the president’s primary foreign affairs advisor and carries out foreign policies. They also act as the country’s spokesperson in various international conferences. As such, the extent to which the U.S. participates actively in addressing global issues, such as poverty, or prioritizes foreign aid can be traced back to the individual serving as Secretary of State. This article will take a closer look at who Antony…
SEATTLE, Washington — The U.S. has long been a champion of global health aid, contributing more than $140 billion in the past two decades to support health assistance around the world. Despite domestic struggles in containing the novel coronavirus, the U.S. has still contributed $1.6 billion in the State Department and USAID funding towards COVID-19 aid. The U.S. military is of the key actors in delivering this aid to developing countries. A Productive Partnership The Department of State is responsible for implementing U.S. foreign policy goals through diplomatic policies. To emphasize the importance of the State Department’s role in foreign…
SEATTLE, Washington — Violent conflict had been on the rise even before the onset of the pandemic. Fragility, conflict and violence (FCV) have already caused much suffering and have the potential to bring about more pain. However, women and peacebuilding can help reduce conflict and poverty. The World Bank projected that the current trajectory will force “up to two-thirds of the extreme poor worldwide” into living in conflict-driven situations by 2030. In 2016, the world had the highest number of countries facing violent conflict in 30 years. The consequences are grim: Afghanistan, for example, has almost the same level of…
JOLIET, Illinois — At the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic, fashion brands needed to close their stores for health concerns. This subjected garment workers to pay cuts, workplace exposure to the virus and unexpected firings. In the Worker Rights Consortium report, Hunger in the Apparel Supply Chain, it was discovered that 21% of 396 garment workers across nine countries experienced wage decreases from August to September 2020. This reduction was a result of brands cutting costs, prioritizing shareholder interests and disregarding garment workers’ need for living wages. It has caused greater rates of poverty, health risks and labor exploitation…
POTOMAC, Maryland — With the passage of Congress’ massive stimulus bill comes a number of new initiatives not only aimed at helping Americans at home but also innumerable peoples suffering abroad as well. Of course, the nearly 5600-page legislation contains a large number of these initiatives, but it cannot be denied that certain recipients were bound to receive the greatest share of aid. Here are the top six recipients receiving more than $100 million, along with the initiatives that will be funded as a result. #6: Egypt ($125 million) Having been a recipient of U.S. foreign aid since 1979, Egypt…