ü Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less
than $2.50 a day.
ü The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest
people combined.
ü Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read
a book or sign their names.
ü Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on
weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it
didn’t happen.
ü 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the
world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access
to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died
in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).