Pakistani cjhildren reaching for a bottle of milk. Photo Courtesy: Artsy Spot
Osama bin Laden is dead. He was shot and killed by a Navy SEAL team in Abbottabad, Pakistan on Sunday afternoon.
This story will undoubtedly keep Pakistan under international focus for weeks to come, which is why highlighting the plight of Pakistan’s children and poor communities is so important. Nearly a quarter of the people there are living in abject poverty, and half cannot read (Save The Children). In response to the August 2010 floods, Pakistan received approximately $500 million in emergency aid, which is far less than what other disaster-stricken nations have received in the past. According to projections, it will cost at least $10-15 billion to rebuild Pakistan over the next five years (MSNBC).
Millions Americans have certain misgivings about Pakistan, and I’m positive Sunday’s developments will reinforce them, but being of a “we are all in this together” mindset, I do think that we have an obligation to help people when we can. That includes the people of Pakistan. The average annual income in Pakistan is less than $1, 000, and that was before the floods hit last August. These people live on pennies a day, far less than what the developed world subsists on. They needed the help before, and need it now more than ever.
If you’d like to help, Charity Navigator has compiled a list or reputable organizations that accept donations.
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