The Global Poverty Crisis: A Call to Action
If you think you are poor, you are probably right. If you are struggling to make ends meet, you are not alone. Get very angry that so many have so little while so few have so much. Get very angry about that.
Around 700 million people live on less than $2.15 a day. That’s right: $2.15. This is what the World Bank calls extreme poverty. These people face daily challenges that most of us can’t imagine. They lack access to food, clean water, and basic healthcare. They often live in fragile situations like conflict zones. Three-quarters of them reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
But this crisis doesn’t stop there. About 3.5 billion people, nearly half of the global population, live on less than $6.85 a day. It’s astonishing how little it takes to be considered poor in this world. Poverty is not just a statistic. It’s a reality for millions.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation. It pushed tens of millions back into extreme poverty. The pandemic didn’t just shut down economies; it shattered lives. As governments scrambled to respond, the vulnerable continued to suffer. Over the last couple of years, progress toward reducing poverty has stalled.
These unfair disparities are staggering. The rich get richer while the poor stay poor. Half the world can’t afford essential healthcare. Millions of children go to bed hungry every night. This is unacceptable.
What are we doing to change this? Not enough. It’s hard to see so many families trapped in a cycle of poverty. Lack of education, healthcare, and opportunities keeps them from breaking free. They deserve more than handouts; they need a chance.
Corruption complicates the fight against poverty. Governments fail to deliver basic services. Those in power often forget the people they serve. We can’t stand by and let this continue. We need accountability. We need leaders who care.
It’s time to demand action. We must support organizations that work on the ground. Groups like World Vision tackle these issues head-on. They provide education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. They focus on sustainable solutions that help communities thrive.
The road to ending poverty is long, but we can get there together. Understanding the crisis is essential. We must care about our neighbors, near and far. If we rally together, we can push for policies that prioritize the poor.
Let’s stoke the fire of outrage. Let’s channel that anger into action. The world deserves to see change. More importantly, the world deserves a future where no one lives in extreme poverty.
Don’t turn away. Stand up. Speak out. We can change the narrative. The time for complacency has passed. The time for action is now.
Sources:
- Baah, S. K. T., Jolliffe, D. M., Lakner, C., & Mahler, D. G. (2022, September 12). Updating the World Bank’s societal poverty line with the 2017 purchasing power parities. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/updating-world-banks-societal-poverty-line-2017-purchasing-power-parities
- Khemani, N. K. (2022, May 3). World Bank revises the global poverty line. Asiana Times. https://asianatimes.com/world-bank-revises-the-global-poverty-line/
- Kenton, W. (2023, September 29). International poverty line: Definition, criticism, uses. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/international-poverty-line.asp
- Filmer, D., Fu, H., & Sánchez-Páramo, C. (2022, May 2). An adjustment to global poverty lines. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/voices/adjustment-global-poverty-lines
- Hasell, J., Rohenkohl, B., Arriagada, P., Ortiz-Ospina, E., & Roser, M. (2022). Poverty. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/poverty
- World Vision. (2024, July 29). Global poverty: Facts, FAQs, and how to help. World Vision USA. https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts
- World Bank. (2024, October 15). Poverty overview. The World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview
- Soken-Huberty, E. (n.d.). Top 20 current global issues we must address. Human Rights Careers. https://humanrightscareers.com/magazine/current-global-issues/