PRAYING FOR WOMEN IN EXTREME POVERTY

Around the world, progress is being made in helping women and children who live in extreme poverty. The multiple campaigns to provide vaccines, malaria medicine, mosquito nets, clean water, and better health care for mothers are a few examples. However, access to healthy food, health care, electricity, safe water, and proper sanitation remains elusive for hundreds of millions. War, corruption, natural disasters, and diseases continue to keep millions from experiencing opportunities to better their lives.

The number of people forced to flee their homes across the world has exceeded 50 million for the first time since World War II. They’ve lost all their belongings and struggle to survive. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reports, for example, that because of the Syrian war, some 7.6 million Syrians are internally displaced while 3.8 million have fled the country.

Despite its large coalfields and offshore energy reserves, the southeastern African nation of Mozambique ranks among the world's least-developed nations. More than half of its more than 25 million people live in poverty. Recent flooding once again left thousands homeless; some were members of Project Hannah’s prayer groups.

The socio-economic impacts of Ebola in Liberia and Sierra Leone were far-reaching and persistent, according to two World Bank Group reports. People lost their jobs and businesses, markets closed, and transportation routes were interrupted.

There has been a reduction of people living in poverty in countries like Ethiopia. However, the very poorest in Ethiopia have become even poorer.

In September 2015 world leaders will meet to talk about what needs to be done to save children’s lives, reduce extreme poverty, and provide access to clean water. Pray that they will stand together against wars and corruption so those who really need the financial help and services that are provided will actually receive them.