7 Under reported stories from 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

If you follow the news regularly, you’ll likely note that 2015 was a year of natural disasters, elections, and refugees. But many stories didn’t make international headlines. 

We wanted to shine a light on 7 news stories that we think you need to know about.

7. Child marriage debate in Bangladesh


Shuvolota is among the thousands of teenagers in Bangladesh that speak out against child marriage. Here, two out of every three girls are married before they’re 18. Shuvolota is determined not to be one of them.

Together with her child club group, Shuvolota holds community awareness sessions to make sure all children know about their rights and that all people in the community know about the harmful affects of child marriage.;

Changing the status quo is never easy.

With the increasing number of child marriages, some government representatives are calling to lower the legal age for marriage to 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

World Vision, along with a coalition of civil society organizations, is responding, urging the government to keep the legal age of marriage at 18.

World Vision is also helping more young people like Shuvolota to generate awareness about child rights and the harmful effects of child marriage.

More on this topic: This underage bride has endured a life of misery since she married at age of 11.

6. Forgotten explosives continue to erode Laos’ future

 

Forty-years after the end of the Vietnam War, children are still learning how to protect themselves from bombs. During the conflict, Laos was heavily bombed – some 200 million tonnes of ordinances were dropped over this country – and an estimated one-third of those dropped bombs never exploded.

Today, those unexploded bombs are a threat to rural families. If discovered and mishandled, they can still explode – often with deadly consquences. World Vision works with partner agencies to clear bombs in project areas where it works. We also work with a team of volunteers to provide education to children about how to identify a bomb and what to do if they find one.

More on this topic: Meet a child survivor of a bomb explosion  

5. Mongolia moves to middle income status

In July, the World Bank announced that Mongolia had moved to an upper middle income country, with the gross national income per person of $4,126 to $12,735 US dollars. The country’s economic performance is welcome news, but does not highlight the growing disparity between the rich and poor.

World Vision works with Mongolian families in the margins, families who are not yet part of the middle class. Our programs support the rural and urban poor – providing families with skills to improve their income, ensuring children have good health and making sure children are well protected.

 4. Pacific Island countries hit by drought

 

There’s just a few drops of stream water for bath time for 5-year-old Darius from Papua New Guinea. The lack of water is the impact of climate change and the El Nino weather patterns in several Pacific island nations.

In Vanuatu, drought is leading to crop failure and hunger, a second blow to the country that is continuing to recover from the impact of Cyclone Pam in March.

In Papua New Guinea, water shortages have affected 2.4 million people. The shortages have forced schools to cancel classes and health care centres to scale down operations. Families who rely on rain water are now searching for alternative sources. 

3. Breastfeeding rates dropping in Cambodia

Sarem Cheng, 22, knows that breast milk provides the best start for her 1-month-old son.
Sadly, many Cambodian mothers are not aware of this.

A joint 2015 study by World Vision and Helen Keller International found that a surge in illegal breast milk substitutes in Cambodia’s marketplace in recent years has led to an 8% decrease in mothers breastfeeding their children.

World Vision continues to provide breastfeeding awareness sessions in Cambodia and works with a coalition of non-governmental organizations to help the government better enforce laws around breast milk substitutes. 

2. Mass flooding in India

Millions of people in India faced flooding this year.

First, in August, the north flooded. 10 million people in five states were affected.
In West Bengal, thousands of homes were submerged, schools were underwater and farmers’ crops were destroyed.

Later, in November, millions in the south of the country were flooded. The business hub of Chennai, along with it’s surrounding states were inundated with flood water – leaving thousands homeless, hungry and in urgent need of help.

World Vision’s emergency response team provide relief aid to both flood situations.

1. Fuel shortage in Nepal stalls aid delivery to quake survivors

 

In September, a blockade at Nepal’s borders with India prevented fuel and commodities from entering the country. In the months that have followed, there has been acute fuel crisis disrupting transportation and supply of essential goods, affecting Nepalese in the following ways: 

  • Hospitals are running out of medical supplies and essential medicine
  • Schools and businesses have not been able to operate regularly
  • Daily life has been difficult due to scarcity of cooking gas
  • The delivery of aid relief to earthquake hit communities is much slower than anticipated 

However, World Vision is committed to reach those most in need and continues to find the best ways possible in making sure aid reaches the most vulnerable who have been affected by both the earthquake and the blockade in one of the harshest winters in Nepal. The current situation has ensured all aid agencies including World Vision to work more strategically, prioritizing critical activities in the field.

We are working closely with local grassroots organizations to provide winterization kits, water, hygiene items, shelter materials and solar lamps to the worst-hit earthquake affected communities. We have also set up temporary learning centres and Women and Adolescence Friendly Spaces, renovated water systems, constructed household toilets, supported community health centres  with medical equipment and provided people with cash transfers so that they can prioritize their own needs and address them accordingly.

To date, World Vision has assisted more than 350,000 people affected by the April 2015 earthquake.

Photos by World Vision communicators/staff: Crislyn Felisilda - Nepal, Md. Shabir Hussain - Bangladesh, Mark Nonkes - Laos, Jon Warren - Mongolia, Joseph Anjoe - Papua New Guinea, Ratana Lay - Cambodia, Bestin Samuel - India, Sunjuli Kunwar - Nepal, Annila Harris - Nepal.