Poverty in America and Iraq

R. J. M. says that it was difficult sometimes. She says she had to carry water from a spring to her house or wait until it rains and catch it in a bucket just to have water for the house. Instead of sitting in a luxurious restroom she had to use an outhouse. (Can you imagine trying to potty train a child without a potty?) After school she had to work in a field (farming) then after the field work homework had to be done by lamp light. Water for her bath had to be heated up in the fireplace or wood burning stove. Shoes were worn to school and church only all other times she was barefooted. All of her clothes were pre owned, new clothes were unheard of. She coped with poverty because that was all she knew. Although others lived better that didn’t matter to her because she was still a happy normal child she says she was not jealous or envious of anyone. Poverty was the norm and the only way to grow up and not live in it was to get your education which is what she did. She feels compensated for poverty because as an adult she can appreciate indoor plumbing, a good job, and a nice wardrobe.

The war in Iraq has affected children greatly. Due to the war \ at least 5 million children have lost either 1 or both parents, 15% of children under the age of 14 work, and about 500,000 live on the streets (2012). These children also lack food, shelter, clean water, health, and education (2012) which are basic needs for the development of any child. Children in this country are used in sexual trafficking, suicide bombing, forced marriages, and prostitution (2012). In Iraq children are forced into doing things they don’t want to do and do not have a chance to be children it truly is sad. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs started a ‘justice for children’ project with the help of UNICEF to help children (2012).

References

Child Victims of War. (2012). Iraq’s Children. Retrieved from http://childvictimsofwar.org.uk/the-state-of-iraq-children/