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By 2010, sub-Saharan Africa will be home to an estimated 50 million orphaned children, and more than a third will have lost one or both parents to AIDS, according to a biennial report on global orphaning released today by USAID, UNAIDS and UNICEF.
Children on the Brink 2004 presents the latest statistics on historical, current and projected numbers of children under age 18 who have been orphaned by AIDS and other causes. The 2004 edition also stresses the importance of very distinct developmental needs that must be met as vulnerable children progress through early and middle childhood to adolescence.
In just two years, between 2001 and 2003, the report states, the global number of children orphaned due to AIDS has risen from 11.5 million to 15 million -- the vast majority in Africa. In Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, other regions covered by the report, orphan numbers have dropped by around a tenth since 1990.
Foreign Aid in the National Interest:
The United States government issues its "non-policy" document on the problems around the world and America's response to them. Sub-Saharan Africa features prominently, as in the graphic on the right.
Among the other conclusions of this document:
U.S. strategy for reducing poverty in developing countries must focus on promoting growth in poor countries.
Trends guarantee that [the international community's] humanitarian aid will remain enormously important.
Twenty years ago, Official Development Assistance (ODA) was the largest source of aid to the developing world. Today, private flows from U.S. foundations, private and voluntary organizations, corporations, churches and individuals remittances exceed ODA -- primarily because of the unique US tax structure and the country's strong tradition of private giving.
GROUPS DOING SIMILAR WORK:
- ONE.ORG: If you only have time to look at one other website, take a look at ONE.org. U2's Bono helped get ONE launched. Here is an introduction to ONE.org:
"ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans - ONE by ONE - to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE is students and ministers, punk rockers and NASCAR moms, Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life, united as ONE to help make poverty history. ONE believes that allocating an additional ONE percent of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries. ONE also calls for debt cancellation, trade reform and anti-corruption measures in a comprehensive package to help Africa and the poorest nations beat AIDS and extreme poverty."
- Assist International: AI is a humanitarian organization dedicated to relieving human suffering around the world by networking the resources in the world with the great human need that exists.
- CARE USA: CARE fights root causes of poverty in the world's poorest communities. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.
- Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a not-for-profit organization that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities.
- DATA (debt, AIDS, trade, Africa): DATA aims to spark response to crises threatening hope in Africa: unpayable Debts, uncontrolled spread of AIDS, and unfair trade rules which keep Africans poor.
- International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization that saves lives, relieves suffering and restores self-reliance through health care training and relief and development programs.
- Oxfam America: Oxfam America helps poor and marginalized communities around the world harness economic opportunities and advocate for their rights (e.g., women's rights, labor rights, indigenous peoples' rights) through grant-making, campaigning, and emergency assistance.
- Plan USA: Plan USA is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world's poorest children. Our community-based programs assist more than 10 million children in 45 developing countries.
- US Fund for UNICEF: The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports child survival, protection and development worldwide through education, advocacy and fundraising.
- Net Aid: NetAid educates young people about global poverty and international development, and provides opportunities for them to take concrete actions that make a difference in the lives of the world's poor.
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