David Rogers Ministries

Scroll Down the page to see articles on:- Problems created by Poverty and Facts about Poverty.

Here are some facts which highlight some of the problems relating to poverty.

This information comes from the Global issues website which provides detailed briefing on a wide range of humanitarian issues.  

1. Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

2. More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.

3. The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.

4. According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”

5. Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

6. Based on enrollment data, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls. And these are regarded as optimistic numbers. 10 year on the situation had not improved.

7. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.

8. Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.

9. Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.

10. Water problems affect half of humanity

Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day

More than 660 million people without sanitation live on less than $2 a day, and more than 385 million on less than $1 a day

Access to piped water into the household averages about 85% for the wealthiest 20% of the population, compared with 25% for the poorest 20%

1.8 billion people who have access to a water source within 1 kilometer, but not in their house or yard, consume around 20 litres per day. In the United Kingdom the average person uses more than 50 litres of water a day flushing toilets (where average daily water usage is about 150 liters a day. The highest average water use in the world is in the US, at 600 liters day.)

Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhea

Source   http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

 

 

Migration and Poverty.

We regularly see people risking their lives to get to rich or reasonably prosperous countries. People ask why? The answers are usually either poverty or war. Countries like modern America were founded on migrates taking perilous sea journeys to make a better life for themselves. The current mass migrations we see in Europe from Africa and Middle East are caused by wars and poverty. Politician in the world’s leading countries who are in the G20 and United Nation Security Council seem unwilling or simply don’t would to face up to the causes of the problems, but instead want to build walls and fences to control the migrants. Until there is action taken to end the wars and fighting in the world plus the causes of poverty, people will still be forced to try to make a better life for themselves in the richer countries. We should pray that the leaders of the world will stop turning a blind eye to these problems and start to act to make sure we have a peaceful world where all can grow and prosper.  We can help by supporting charities working to improve the living standards in the poorer countries.  (Some are listed on the Links page)

What is poverty (A definition)

The Poor are those who live at the lower end of the social economic scale, they may have an income above the poverty line, but they still have to struggle to earn enough money to provide themselves with the basic necessities of life. Material poverty is the description given to the economic circumstances, in which people whose income is below the poverty line, find themselves. Although the economic indications can define those there is not a great deal of difference between those living just above the line and those below it.

People can be poor through a variety of reasons these can be because of disability, unemployment, economic depression, old age, a large family or the death or disappearance, of the principle wage earner.

If those who are living in poverty are to be helped, the inequalities of the modern social economic systems need to change. This does mean a willingness to challenge the attitude of politicians to help organise health care, education and financial assistance for the poor. The world is becoming a global village and I believe that the Christian Church is the only global organisation that has the strength in numbers, in the countries where many of the multi-national companies are based, to challenge their attitudes and the governments who are exploiting the poor and ignoring the issues that cause poverty.

The majority of poverty could be eradicated if there was the political will to address the causes. The challenge for the Christian communities is how do they care for and help those living in material poverty, while challenging the attitudes of politicians, business people and bankers.

In the United Kingdom there is a social security system which is meant to help all those living below the poverty line, but there is an excluded underclass, for example people who are homeless or their income is more than the social service financial limits, but they have fallen into poverty because of debt or age. The Challenge for the modern Christian is how to help those in genuine need. To find out how you can help go to the websites listed on the links page.

 The problems created by Poverty

Poverty  creates hardship and suffering, where people can find themselves in a financial depressing situation where they live a hand to mouth existence. People who are living in poverty often live in deprived areas where there is a high rate of crime as people are forced to steal to raise money to live. People can easily become destitution losing their homes and have to live on the streets sleeping rough and begging for money to buy food. Homeless people can fall prey to criminal gangs or forced into prostitution. Those of us that have a home can feel helpless when we see these situations, but frequently those who care are themselves living just above the poverty line and know they could easily be in the same position as those who are regarded as living in poverty.  It is the politicians who are best to help, but most of the help for those living in poverty comes through the voluntary organisations that depend in donations. In a world where tonnes of food are thrown away while many people go hunger or rely on food banks there has to be something wrong in our society.

What can we do if you cannot afford to make a donation or help support the charities working with the poor? You can write to your member of parliament.  We can do things to raise awareness. The problem many people have is that they need to focus on earning a living to support their own families. For parents of young children caring for the children is a full time active. However we can all pray and support those who are helping those who are in need. Next time a politician knocks at your door ask them what they are doing to help the homeless and disadvantaged in the community?