Statistics
The world as ten children
If we could reduce the whole human race to 10 children sitting around a table:
- 3 would have plates that are heaped so high that they will never possibly finish what is there.
- 2 will just about manage to live by scavenging what is thrown away from the three.
- 3 will be permanently hungry.
- 2 will die, one of dysentery and one of pneumonia.
I wonder if God was at this table what would he say? I imagine he would sit with tears in his eyes as he watched his children. He loves each child equally, but his heart would be broken. He would look with compassion on those with no food. He provided enough food for them all. If only they would share it would be so simple, but the three with full plates are more interested in seeing how large they can make their plates. One of them hears a cry from the end of the table. He looks down to see a child, skinny and bony pleading for help. He shakes his head and says:
"That is awful! Somebody should do something".
Worldwide stats for children
- 28 Million children die from easy curable diseases each year
- 17 million children die from malnutrition and starvation each year
- 1/3 of the world population is malnourished
- 20% of the world has no access to safe water at all
- 40% have no sanitation
- 10 million children are involved in the sex industry
- 100 million children are on the streets
- 200 million child labourers
- 1.4 million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV
In Africa these statistics are much higher, as the above include the "rich" countries.
African Statistics
- 19,000 children die daily from easily curable diseases.
- 80 per cent of children under the age of 15 living with HIV are children living in Africa.
- It is estimated that children comprise 17% of Africa's labour force. 25% of children between the ages of 10 and 14 are involved in labour. Senegal government estimates between 50 and 100 thousand children are street beggars.
- 21% of Kenya's children are not attending school.
- It is estimated that as many as 130,000 street children exist daily in Nairobi.
- There are an estimated 200,000 orphans in Rwanda as a result of the recent civil war.
Of the children that die under age of five:
- In Kenya 35% die of aids
- In Namibia 48% die of aids
- In South Africa 50% die of aids
- In Zimbabwe 50% die of aids
- In Botswana 64% die of aids
It is time to get angry, time to do something. We can no longer sit back and say "that is awful, somebody should so something." It is our world. It's our responsibility.