Challenge. A global challenge. For all of us, not just the staff at The Mountain Fund. Consider these facts for a moment from United Nations Development Programme; Sustainable Human Development and UN Millennium Project.
- 1.2 billion people live on less than U.S.$1 dollar a day
- Over half of the world's population - 3 billion people -lives on less than U.S.$2 per day
- Every year, 6 million children die from malnutrition before their 5th birthday
- Over 11 million children die each year from preventable causes like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia
These are shocking figures that represent the staggering poverty that much of the world wakes up to on a daily basis.
The Mountainous Regions - Much of the poverty, lack of education, human rights violations, and lack of healthcare is in the mountainous countries of the world.
- Nepal - 47% Unemployment - 42% of population below poverty - infant mortality rate 66/1000 - per capita income $210us
- Peru - 9.6% Unemployment - 54% of population below poverty - infant mortality rate 31/1000 - 37% of population lives on under $2.00us per day
- India - 9.2% unemployment - 25% below poverty - 56/1000 infant mortality rate
Infant mortality is used to compare the health and well-being of populations across and within countries. The infant mortality rate is the rate at which babies less than one year of age die. So that we are clear on the meaning of the rates above, the infant mortality rate for the US is 6/1000.
The countries in the list above are just a few of the places where The Mountain Fund has Member Agencies working to improve individual human rights, healthcare, education, clean up the environment and give a hand to those who need it most.
What inspires us is the work these organizations are doing everyday. As you visit our website, please take a moment to consider what your support means, the number of lives that you have the power to impact and the positive change that you can make in the world.
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