WILLS POINT, Texas (ANS) – Half of the world’s poor live in just five countries–India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia–according to World Bank, an international banking organization.
Those categorized as the “extreme poor”–about 736 million people–live on less than $1.90 per day.
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Faith-based mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org ) – on the frontlines in the fight against poverty — has released a new report declaring extreme poverty “public enemy number one,” and challenging people everywhere to help eradicate it.
The release of the report – titled Poverty: Public Enemy #1: Eliminating Extreme Poverty Worldwide is Possible, But Not Inevitable – coincided with the United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Oct. 17, an annual event that spotlights poverty’s crippling impact.
For the full report, go to: https://www.gfa.org/press/poverty-report.
“Extreme poverty is the ruthless enemy that lurks in cities and villages across Asia and around the world, stealing millions of children’s lives every year,” said GFA founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan, whose Texas-based nonprofit organization has helped millions of Asia’s poorest people over the past four decades.
According to the report, poverty’s tsunami of devastation includes:
** The poorest 20 percent of the world’s children who are two times as likely to die before age five as the richest 20 percent
** Globally, every year, 2.7 million newborns–equal to the population of Chicago–who die from poverty-related health and nutrition issues in the first month of life
** Almost 3 billion people who do not have toilets, and nearly 1 billion who lack safe drinking water
** 161 million primary-age children who cannot afford to attend school
‘Ambitious, Yet Achievable’ Goal
To end extreme cycles of poverty worldwide, it would cost less than one-third of how much Americans annually spend on Christmas, GFA’s report says, citing economist Jeffrey Sachs.
While the eradication of extreme poverty in parts of the developing world by 2030 is “ambitious, yet achievable,” according to World Bank, the task is far more difficult in conflict-torn regions and areas impacted by natural disasters.
It Starts With One
GFA’s donors have helped nearly 2 million Asian families climb out of abject poverty by providing goats, sewing machines, and other ways to earn income.
“Eliminating severe poverty really starts with one person saying: ‘I’m going to make a difference and help one person in poverty’,” said Yohannan. “That one person can be you or me. We really can help end extreme poverty in this generation.”
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org ) is a leading faith-based mission agency, bringing vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear the “good news” of Jesus Christ.
In GFA’s latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,000 clean water wells drilled, over 11,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.
The author of this story, Michael Ireland, is a self-supported media missionary with ANS. Click here to support him as a missionary journalist.
