Poverty
and hunger
What is poverty and hunger?
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, poverty is defined as the "state of being poor." Poverty and hunger are interconnected. Poverty causes hunger and it can be seen as a "dimension of extreme poverty." Poverty contributes to hunger because the poor people do not have the means and resources to buy or grow food on a daily basis.
In El Salvador, there is an unequal distribution of wealth. The richest 10% of the population receives incomes 44 times higher than the poorest 10%. 37.8% of the population lives below the poverty line. There are .2 million people living on less than $1.25 a day. In the 2011 EHPM National Survey, it displayed that the rural poverty was 50.2% and urban was 35.4%. Because the country is greatly dependent on imports and payments, the country is very susceptible to external shocks. El Salvador is also vulnerable to natural disasters, which also affects the economy.
In El Salvador, there is an unequal distribution of wealth. The richest 10% of the population receives incomes 44 times higher than the poorest 10%. 37.8% of the population lives below the poverty line. There are .2 million people living on less than $1.25 a day. In the 2011 EHPM National Survey, it displayed that the rural poverty was 50.2% and urban was 35.4%. Because the country is greatly dependent on imports and payments, the country is very susceptible to external shocks. El Salvador is also vulnerable to natural disasters, which also affects the economy.
Food Insecurity
Food security is when “all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” It includes both physical and economic access to food. Food insecurity is the opposite; it is chronic hunger.
In El Salvador, regular food and nutrition insecurity is owed to “increased environmental vulnerability, which impacts food availability, food access, and food consumption during and after a disaster.” Because there is not a proper system to ensure emergency preparedness among the poor also increase their recurrent food and nutrition insecurity. There have been 8 major disasters in the past ten years. This hunger affects all aspects of life: it affects the development of the person, the immune system, and mortality rates.
In El Salvador, regular food and nutrition insecurity is owed to “increased environmental vulnerability, which impacts food availability, food access, and food consumption during and after a disaster.” Because there is not a proper system to ensure emergency preparedness among the poor also increase their recurrent food and nutrition insecurity. There have been 8 major disasters in the past ten years. This hunger affects all aspects of life: it affects the development of the person, the immune system, and mortality rates.
Nourishment
Typical diet:
The typical diet in El Salvador are grains (rice, beans, corn), vegetables (tomato, green pepper, onion, potato), dairy products (eggs and cheese), and fruits.
Although, the proper diet that is recommended for everyone is demonstrated by the food pyramid:
The typical diet in El Salvador are grains (rice, beans, corn), vegetables (tomato, green pepper, onion, potato), dairy products (eggs and cheese), and fruits.
Although, the proper diet that is recommended for everyone is demonstrated by the food pyramid:
According to the FESAL Health Survery of 2008, 19% of children between 3 and 5 years have low height for their age. About 19.2% of children under 5 years old are undernourished. 40% of children from 6 to 11 months have anemia and 17.2% of pregnant women suffer anemia at the end of their pregnancy.
Issues related to Poverty
Hunger is detrimental to one's health. Chronic hunger can cause a person to have high vulnerability to common illnesses and to infections. It also causes high infant mortality rates. In El Salvador, the poor are malnourished. As stated before, the children do not develop fully.
As of 2003, 17.1% of the population is in the agriculture sector, 65.8% is in services, and 17.1% is in industry. The unemployment rate is 7%. The workers have the right to unionize, but the government block union formation. The workweek is set at a maximum of 44 hours and 6 days. As of 2005, the minimum wage were $5.28 for service employees, $5.16 for industrial workes, and $5.04 for workes in maquila plants. Although child labor is prohibited, it still remains a problem.
Home ownership is very low. Many generations live in the same house, resulting in limited indoor space. Also because of the natural disasters, the need for housing has increased in urban and rural areas. It is difficult to rebuild these houses because of the lack of resources.
As of 2003, 17.1% of the population is in the agriculture sector, 65.8% is in services, and 17.1% is in industry. The unemployment rate is 7%. The workers have the right to unionize, but the government block union formation. The workweek is set at a maximum of 44 hours and 6 days. As of 2005, the minimum wage were $5.28 for service employees, $5.16 for industrial workes, and $5.04 for workes in maquila plants. Although child labor is prohibited, it still remains a problem.
Home ownership is very low. Many generations live in the same house, resulting in limited indoor space. Also because of the natural disasters, the need for housing has increased in urban and rural areas. It is difficult to rebuild these houses because of the lack of resources.
Currently in el salvador
An Australian mining company, OceanaGold, is trying to make El Salvador to allow it to mine. The mining has impacted the environment. The San Sebastian River runs bright yellow because of the chemical byproducts. If El Salvador wins this disagreement, it will preserve a “bipartisan policy on mining, a country’s right to make policy generally, and to protect is main water supply in particular.” If it loses then the company will be able to “ride roughshod over the country’s democratic process and prosecute a financial claim that could send its government broke.” The San Sebastian village has a high rate of disease linked to arsenic poisoning because of this pollution. If the company does enforce a new gold mine, then there could be more destructive consequences for the country’s limited drinkable water supply.
To learn more:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/03/australian-mining-is-poisoning-el-salvador-it-could-soon-send-it-broke-too
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/03/australian-mining-is-poisoning-el-salvador-it-could-soon-send-it-broke-too
Non-profit agency
The WFP is the world's largest humanitarian organization fighting world hunger. In El Salvador, their operations are focused on helping the food and nutrition security to the most vulnerable population groups. One of their current operations is "PROGRESANDO El Salvador." With the help of the USAID, they aim to help families affected by the Coffee Rust. This Coffee Rust outbreak affected coffee production, labor demand, family income, and food security of thousands of families.
How are we called to respond?
Sources:
"Poverty & Equity." Data. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
"El Salvador." Freedom from Hunger. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
"UN World Food Program." El Salvador. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
"Poverty & Equity." Data. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
"El Salvador." Freedom from Hunger. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014.
"UN World Food Program." El Salvador. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.