A Different World for Orphans
This is a factual and informative look at the status of Orphans in our world. The article has illustrated charts and diagrams depicting the status Orphans in the world. It shows why there are Orphans, where the large concentration of Orphans are located. The Orphan population is a growing concern and something that is needed for public awareness.
Another increase in orphans occurred during and after World War I. The Great Depression left children on the doorsteps of churches by families who could not care for or feed them. They were housed in orphanages until their parents had the means to take them back and care for them. This struggle introduced social welfare and government subsidy programs. Society changed their understanding of orphans and abandoned children in the 1960s, and while there are still some orphanages in operation today in the United States, there is a change from housing children in them to placing children with families in foster care and group housing programs. Foster care programs are still in effect today and there are programs to help children find relatives and discover where their original parents are residing.
Abandoned and unclaimed children in the United States have better opportunities and living conditions than their predecessors. In 2006, the population of orphans in the United States was 302, 841 and 75,757 were under the age of 18, while 20, 776 were under the age of 5. The death rate of orphans in the United States in 2006 was less than 14.
In other countries of the world, however, orphans have greater risk of survival than any preceding generation. They are more numerous and concentrated in specific areas of the world because plagues and diseases killed their parents and family members. HIV/AIDS is the major contributor to large populations of orphans in the Sub-Sahara Region of Africa, the geographical area south of the Sahara Desert. The countries in this region are the poorest in the world.
In 2006, an estimated 15 million children worldwide under the age of 18 have lost one or both parents to this horrible disease (Orphans and HIV). Being left with no supportive relatives or family the orphans must fight for survival with the added stigma of HIV/AIDS. Orphans in this world are affected by many difficult and desperate situations as indicated in Figure 1 (Global Action for Children and My Orphanages.org).
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) monitors and tracks the number of orphans worldwide. UNICEF projects that the number of orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa (countries south of the Sahara Desert) will be 16 million by 2010. Zimbabwe and Botswana sharing a border in southern Africa will have the greatest increase of 77% and 76% respectively.
In 2006, Nigeria had the largest population (in the millions) of orphans. Figure 2 illustrates the population of orphans produced because of the HIV/AIDS disease.
Other conditions produce orphans in the world. Figure 3 shows orphan populations in countries as the result of malnutrition, wars, and parents who give up their children to social service organizations as some of the reasons.
Especially in the Sub-Sahara Region of Africa in extreme poverty areas basic necessities of clean water and food are reported. Medical care, nutrition, and education are greatly needed as well.
There are some organizations available to serve this vast population of orphans. However, the need exceeds the capabilities and number of these organizations. My Orphanages Organization tracks the names, locations, and population of children being served through orphanages in the world. The number of orphanages is insufficient to meet the vast population of orphans in high-risk regions. Figure 4 shows orphanages in countries with large populations of orphans as the result of HIV/AIDS. Notice that the number of children in these orphanages is much less than the orphans in their respective country as indicated in Figure 2. The Democratic Republic of Congo has an estimated 770,000 orphans. Myorphanage.org does not have listings for any orphanages in that country.
In summary, the number of orphans has increased since the 1900’s. Far more calamitous situations exist in the world, which contributes to the orphan population such as children who are orphaned when diseases such as HIV/AIDS take the lives of their parents and relatives. Orphans in the Sub-Sahara countries are greatly affected by government involvement, non-involvement, conflict, instability, societal-educational favor or rejection, and family unit responsibilities of the father or head of household. The burden of taking care of orphans in these countries is on the women who have lost their husbands or are unmarried. The stigma of HIV/AIDS diminishes the orphans’ chances of being accepted in society. Unmet basic needs of sanitation, clean water, and food decrease the survival rate of children who become orphaned. Orphans and women are easily exploited when left to take care of themselves.
While the United States, Europe and other developed countries continue to successfully provide better opportunities and living conditions for abandoned and orphaned children, it is estimated by 2010 there will be 15.7 million vulnerable children in the Sub-Sahara countries. This is a different world for the orphan, a world that needs to recognize that their plight is greater now than ever before.
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