Essay #3- Global Essay

College of Western Idaho

 

 

Eradicating Poverty and Hunger in Africa

A Look at the Issue of Ending Poverty and Hunger in Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alicia Birch

0087486

English 102

Professor Leslie Jewkes

May 6, 2013

 

 

 

Abstract

Poverty and hunger is a continuously mounting and growing issue facing many individuals all around the globe. With thousands of individuals dying each and every day around the world due to poverty and hunger, it is crucial that poverty and hunger is eradicated. While poverty and hunger is widely prevalent in many countries across the globe, Africa is one of the most affected countries to this day. In order for the eradication of hunger and poverty to progress in Africa, it is necessary for affluent countries to devote more money, resources, and dedication to the cause.

 

 

 

 

 

Eradicating Poverty and Hunger in Africa

Imagine living life with only $2.50 to spend each day, wondering if each day would be the last due to a lack of food and resources necessary to survive. According to Anup Shaw, an author devoted to studying global issues, more than half of the world’s population lives in poverty, surviving on less than $2.50 a day.  This number equates to a shocking statistic of more than 3 billion individuals throughout the world struggling with the effects of poverty, causing rising numbers of those living in hunger each day as well (Shaw). While the issues of hunger and poverty are seen all across the globe, the country of Africa is one of the most poverty stricken and hungry countries in the entire world. Killing more people than AIDS, poverty and hunger has quickly become a crucial issue that must be addressed in Africa in order to improve and advance the world (“African Hunger”). In order for the eradication of hunger and poverty to progress in Africa, it is necessary for affluent countries to devote more money, resources, and dedication to the cause.

Recent statistics show that a shocking 40 million people live in extreme poverty and hunger in Africa, fighting for the ability to stay alive each and every day (Miller). Nearly half of Africa’s population currently lives below the global poverty level of $1.00 per day (Lluís Serra-Majem). According to the graph below, Africa alone makes up one quarter of the entire hungry population globally (Miller).

 

Scholarly journal author, Lluís Serra-Majem stated,

Hunger is both a violation of dignity and an obstacle to social, political, and economic progress; chronic hunger increases one’s susceptibility to disease, hinders learning ability, and leaves one weak and unable to work and meet family needs. This rupturing of self-reliance inhibits developing economies and contributes to the devastating downward spiral of hunger and poverty. (Serra-Majem)

Just as Lluis Serra-Majem stated, the horrific effects of poverty and hunger on the population of Africa will continue to cause a downward and much deeper spiral unless measures are taken towards eradicating poverty and hunger. 

     There are many causes influencing and producing the outrageous statistics of African poverty and hunger (Masci). David Masci, a writer who specializes in foreign affairs, reported that the main cause of high poverty and hunger rates in Africa include drought, the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has killed many farmers who would have been able to provide and harvest food, and corrupt and inefficient governments. In addition to these causes, many also believe that the United States is to blame for the donations of genetically modified corn to Africa and other needy countries because of the health risks to eating the altered corn (Masci). An award-winning environmental specialist, Brian Hansen, said “The health infrastructure in many countries is literally non-existent. There's lawlessness and violence. I don't see how more aid would be useful unless these things are addressed first” (Hansen). Just as Hansen stated, the issue of poverty and hunger in Africa will not be resolved until the initial reasons causing the high rates are addressed and eradicated.

Because of drought, AIDS, government instability, and violence causing high poverty and hunger rates in Africa, many fundraising organizations and countries have stepped in to give aid and support. “World Vision,” made up of 44,000 staff members worldwide, is one of many organizations devoted to putting an end to poverty and hunger in Africa (“Our Impact”). This organization has provided several million pounds of food and offers individuals a way to “sponsor a child” and provide assistance to those suffering in Africa. In addition to organizations providing support to Africa, affluent countries have committed themselves to giving aid and assistance to the struggling country. Despite this commitment, many affluent countries have stepped back in recent years and are currently donating very little amounts to eradicating poverty and hunger in suffering countries. The “Official Development Assistance,” or ODA, was an authorized commitment from affluent nations to support and assist suffering countries, by donating 0.7 percent of GNP level. This donation percentage was recommended by the United Nation’s Goal of Eradicating Poverty and Hunger (Hansen). Seven countries involved in the commitment, also known as the “G7 Countries,” consisting of the United States, Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada have since reduced their ODA by almost 30 percent (Hansen). Of the developed countries, the United States currently offers the smallest percentage of assistance to those suffering the effects of poverty and hunger (Hansen). Just as Hansen stated, despite the rising amount of individuals living in poverty and hunger, the necessary amount of funds donated to destitute countries continues to decrease.

Contrary to the crucial need for more support and assistance from affluent countries, many believe that providing aid will only hinder and slow down the progress of eradicating poverty and hunger in Africa. One critic stated, “As a general rule, foreign aid is not an effective way to promote prosperity. Indeed, it makes things worse because it strengthens the very institutions that thwart prosperity” (Masci). Dambisa Moyo, recent author of a novel entitled “Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is Another Way for Africa”, believes that foreign aid is actually resulting in the exact opposite outcome of making the problem of poverty and hunger worse, instead of better. She believes that foreign aid will not offer long term fulfilling results, due to Africa’s corrupt and inefficient government (Sharma). Despite the large amounts of assistance given to Africa, the percentage of individuals living in extreme poverty has nearly doubled in the last 20 years because of the unethical politicians in Africa (Sharma).  Many others argue that the aid given to Africa has created a dangerous dependency, causing the support to be very much like “welfare” (Masci). While an estimated 25,000 people die from hunger and poverty each day in Africa, many still stand for the belief that aid should be cut or eliminated, because it only hinders the progress of eradicating poverty and hunger.  

Regardless of the negative viewpoints of providing aid to Africa, it is crucial for countries to increase the amount of money, resources, and dedication given to eradicating poverty and hunger in order for progression to occur. Ambassador Lyman stated, “Things in Africa are not good right now. But if we didn't have aid, I guarantee there would be much more human suffering than there has been” (Masci). With the surplus of food and supplies the United States and other wealthy countries are blessed with, there is no reason to not support and give aid to those who are less fortunate. Lluís Serra-Majem believes that in order for poverty and hunger to decrease in Africa, developed nations must be committed to fair trade, assistance with the advancement of health and education, as well as provide more access to “rural livelihood opportunities” (Serra-Majem). In order for progression to be seen, it is necessary for wealthy neighboring countries to give more money, resources, and dedication to eliminating the amount of people dying from poverty and hunger related causes each day in Africa.

If more of an emphasis was put on donating money and food that is often times wasted each day, then individuals in Africa would be able to have the means and resources necessary for survival. It is crucial for individuals to realize that even one person has the ability to make a difference and affect the life of someone struggling with poverty and hunger in Africa. Mother Theresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one” (Moncur). If more individuals in the United States fed or sponsored just one person in Africa, the amount of mortality due to hunger and homelessness would be greatly reduced, making the world a more peaceful and better place for all to live.

 

Works Cited

“African Hunger: 5 Things You do Not Know About Hunger in Africa.” African Hunger. N.p., 03 May 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2013.

Hansen, Brian. “Children in Crisis: Are Rich Nations Doing Enough to Help?” CQ Researcher 11.29 (2001): 159-70. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Masci, David. "Famine in Africa." CQ Researcher 8 Nov. 2002: 921-44. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

Miller, Garrett. “Hunger in Africa: Poverty, Drought, Corruption- Give a Hungry Man a Fish and He Lives for a Day.” Scout Banana. N.p., 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.

Moncur, Michael. “Classic Quotes: Mother Teresa” The Quotations Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

“Our Impact: Poverty is Complex, and so are Our Solutions.” World Vision. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.         

Serra-Majem, et al. "Breaking the Poverty/Malnutrition Cycle in Africa and the Middle East." Nutrition Reviews 67. (2009): S40-S46. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2013.

Sharma, Manasi. “Is Foreign Aid Helping or Hurting Africa?” Global Envision. Mercy Corps, 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.