In 2010, the number of children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million – equivalent to the number of people living in New York, Paris, and Bangkok combined. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, over 15 million children have been orphaned by the pandemic.Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia.

 

In addition to the psychological trauma of losing a parent, orphans are often subject to discrimination and are less likely to receive healthcare, schooling and other needed services. Deprived of protection, education, support and love, they face malnutrition, illness and HIV infection and are easy prey to many forms of exploitation: forced labor, prostitution and child soldiering.

 

Number of AIDS Orphans:

 

  • In 2010, the number of children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million.
  • Over 15.7 million AIDS orphans live in Sub-Saharan Africa, alone.

 

  • Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia.

 

The Impact:

 

  • In addition to the trauma of losing a parent, orphans are often subject to discrimination and are less likely to receive healthcare, education and other needed services.
  • In HIV affected households lacking community support, food consumption can drop by 40% putting children at risk to hunger, malnutrition and stunting.

 

  • Impoverished and often without support to educate and protect them, orphans and vulnerable children face increased risk of HIV infection.

 

  • Orphans are often easy prey to many forms of exploitation: forced labor, prostitution and child soldiering.

 

Support for AIDS Orphans

 

  • An average 12% of orphans receive basic external support.
  • US $4.6 billion is needed to implement a comprehensive response to AIDS orphans and vulnerable children. Estimates suggest that less than US $0.5 billion is currently being invested.

 

  • Only three countries – the US, UK and Ireland have earmarks providing at least 10% of HIV/AIDS funding to orphans and vulnerable children. Yet experts believe that these promises and legislation are unfulfilled as they meander through government bureaucracy.*

 

Do something. Give to Samaritan’s Purse at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/Project_Donations/.

 

 

 

*Statistics from http://www.worldaidsorphans.org/

 

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