Photo by AusAID In early December, there was an earthquake that hit the Aceh Province in Indonesia. According to Fox News, “Maj. Gen. Tatang Sulaiman, chief of the army in Aceh province, said at least 97 died while four people were pulled from the rubble alive. Another four or five are known to be buried,… Continue reading Earthquake in Indonesia
Tag: Poverty
Dictionary.com defines poverty as “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; the condition of being poor.” It defines “poor” as “having little or no money, goods, or other means of support.”
Poverty means not having enough money. Right?
According to the World Bank, if you’re living on $1.90 a day or less, you’re living in extreme poverty. More than 750 million people fall into this category. But you can make more than $1.90 a day and still be poor. The World Bank has drawn two other lines.
- If you live in a lower-middle-income country, like Egypt, India, and the Philippines, and make less than $3.20 a day you are considered relatively poor.
- If you live in an upper-middle-income country, like Brazil, Jamaica, and South Africa, and make less than $5.50 a day you are considered relatively poor.
Pause for a moment to reflect that eliminating extreme poverty is one of the original United Nations’ Sustainable Goals for 2030. We will still have a long way to go.
The UN has created a Human Development Index, the result of a complex calculation of the multiple dimensions of poverty that must be overcome. Not unexpectedly, the greatest measurable amount of poverty continues to exist in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Knowing that poverty exists is one thing. Knowing the extent to which it exists is another. There are several ways to view the data but here we will simply look at the ranking of the South Asian countries where, according to Gospel for Asia, the need is greater than most can imagine.
Easter Rabbits Can Help Give Families a Future
Image by Gospel for Asia Farm animals can provide income to those who are in need. These animals may provide milk or their young may be sold for a price that will take care of the family. Either way, people may wonder why this kindness was shown to them and it provides opportunities for Christians… Continue reading Easter Rabbits Can Help Give Families a Future
Gambia’s President wouldn’t step down
CC BY-SA 3.0 President Jammeh, wouldn’t step down despite his defeat in Gambia’s election. According to CNN, “Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 military coup, suffered a surprise election defeat in December to Adama Barrow, who won 45% of the vote. Jammeh originally conceded the presidency, but then announced his ‘total rejection of the… Continue reading Gambia’s President wouldn’t step down
Yemen facing the ravages of war and malnourishment
By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) Since the war hit Yemen, there has been a rising amount of poverty and malnutrition in the country. AP reports, “International agencies have classified Hodeidah among nine of Yemen’s 22 provinces that are a step away from famine. A U.N. report in June said that in Yemen, ‘the highest… Continue reading Yemen facing the ravages of war and malnourishment
Rohingya in Bangladesh Moved to Uninhabited Island
The Rohingya of Myanmar is one of the most persecuted group in the world. They have no home. Per Fox News, “Some 300,000 Rohingya Muslims have lived in Bangladesh for decades after fleeing there from neighboring Myanmar in the face of persecution by its military and majority Buddhists.” Many of the Rohingya are forced into… Continue reading Rohingya in Bangladesh Moved to Uninhabited Island
Bring Dignity to Poor Through Work
Introduction There are millions of people around the world living in poverty and without the opportunity to earn a sustainable income. Some ministries give dignity to people through providing some people work. For example, Gospel for Asia (GFA) provides farm animals or other items that help people get to work, so they do not have… Continue reading Bring Dignity to Poor Through Work
Alleviating Poverty through Work
Alleviating Poverty By Providing Work Jesus promised we would always have the poor with us. This does not mean we should ignore the poor. But how can we help those in poverty? We should give income generating opportunities to the poor as we’re able to. Items from Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog help provide… Continue reading Alleviating Poverty through Work
Global poverty is declining, though evidence seems scant to some
Jesus said the poor would always be with us, and he was right. Scores of impoverished people have inhabited this globe, suffering from multiple hardships. But there is evidence that extreme poverty — the estimated 1.4 billion people in countries outside the US who do not have access to clean water, enough food, sufficient clothing… Continue reading Global poverty is declining, though evidence seems scant to some