About Us Mountain Communities
| About Us: Mountain Communities | |
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The communities in the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia are one of the most underdeveloped areas in the world. People in these areas have strongly relied on local NGOs and governmental agencies to sustain livelihood. These rural areas do not have the necessities found in urban settings. Food, water, education, healthcare, and transportation, amongst many other basic necessities, are lacking. Poverty deeply impacts the people and the environment in the Mountain Communities. A majority of the population live below the official poverty line. With rising food and fuel prices placing increasing pressure on the livelihoods of the poor and strain due to political instability and external shocks, the challenge is to maintain high growth rates and ensure the benefits are broadly spread. Health and education systems are under-resourced. Women and girls are particularly disadvantaged. Maternal mortality rates are very high. A woman in Pakistan faces a one in fifty chance of dying from a pregnancy-related complication during her reproductive life. Infant mortality rates remain amongst the highest in the region and rates of childhood malnutrition, at 38%, are higher than those in sub-Saharan Africa. Poor access for disadvantaged groups and poor quality of care are issues undermining effective health services delivery. Literacy rates are lowest in all of South Asia, especially for women who maintain 30% literacy or lower. Many students who enroll in primary school drop out to help their families or never continue on to secondary school. The quality of this education is also subpar. Rupani Foundation continues to work to increase the economic and education levels in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. |
