Extreme Poverty ‘Public Enemy Number One’ Says Gospel for Asia

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 twice as likely to die before age five, as compared to 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

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.

‘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.”

PHOTO CUTLINE: PUBLIC ENEMY #1: Mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org) has released a new report declaring extreme poverty “public enemy number one,” and challenging people everywhere to help eradicate it. Full report available at https://www.gfa.org/press/poverty-report/.

About GFA World

GFA World (gospelforasia.net) is a leading faith-based global mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across the world, especially in Africa and Asia, and sharing the love of God. In a typical year, this includes thousands of community development projects that benefit downtrodden families and their children, free medical camps conducted in more than 880 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 163,000 needy families, and teaching to provide hope and encouragement in 110 languages in 14 nations through broadcast ministry. GFA World has launched programs in Africa, starting with compassion projects in Rwanda. For all the latest news, visit the Press Room at https://gfanews.org/news.