Poverty is one of realities in the world and it is a dangerous one. Because of it, many people suffer from a lot of issues like malnutrition, starvation and other hunger-related diseases. According to Andre and Velasquez (1992), every single day, 40,000 children die because of starvation.(2) It is known that this hunger is related to poverty. So how can they recover from poverty ruining them? Certainly, they can get over this circumstance if their humane sibling help them. By the way, do they have to help them? I think they have this obligation. There are two prime causes showing why wealthy nations have an obligation to aid poorer countries: it is their moral responsibility and they can save poor governments from rich residents by helping them.
The first cause, which indicates why rich countries have an obligation to help poorer ones, is that aiding poor people is moral responsibility for all people. There are some studies about this responsibility. Most researchers argue that this obligation exists because they can prevent some harmful effects of poverty. As Andre and Velasquez (1992) present, agonizing and passing away because of hunger is detrimental and aid from wealthy nations can restrain this situation even if it is little.(3) Therefore, due to the fact that they can alter some miseries, wealthy nations have a responsibility to help poorer nations. Additionally, people must help each other in any case owing to the fact that human is the most honourable creature. Only people can appreciate each other and just a human can help another one. Hence, even if there is no another cause to help poor people, rich people have an obligation to aid them on account of their humanity. As a result, wealthy people have to aid poorer ones because it is their moral obligation. Furthermore, help from rich states is very significant for poor governments. The poor governments are under pressing of native men who are rich and hold the market. Because of the fact that the men monopolize financial factors such as trade and market, they can start any businesses, which they want at will without thinking whether these jobs are harmful for people. However, governments can neither prevent their damages nor start a new business that is not detrimental for people. They can do nothing because they do not have a sufficient financial and political power. Also, Thomas (2012) puts forward that numerous governments crucially rely on the politic backing of people who anticipate particular interests from government, like government works, agreements, or chances for revenue generation by the way of sale of effect or arrival to government ownership.(4) Consequently, if wealthy countries aid poor governments, they can set up new harmless businesses. Then, they reinforce their authority so they can prevent many harmful jobs and get through poverty thanks to aid and donation from rich nations. On the other hand, some researchers claim that wealthy nations have no obligation to help poorer ones. They allege that these charities do not go where they should arrive. Andre and Velasquez (1992) say that repressive governments put account these donations to subsidise their armies or invest in some projects, which are beneficial for rich residents.(5) Also, they (1992) allege that 80% of food aid transmitted to Somalia between 1978 and 1984 was used by the army and other governmental institutions.(6) They are right about what happened in Somalia. However, this can not be interpreted to mean that same things will be occur all the time. If we think so, we can not help anyone we don’t know exactly because he/she can not be real needy. Additionally, rich people can directly donate to poor people through some relief organizations like IHH without relation to governments. It is a vital point to intend to help poorer ones. Who want to aid poor people can find a way somehow. In brief, even if Somalian or another government can use aid where they want, wealthy people who want to help poor nations can directly aid anywise. Consequently, aiding poor nations is an obligation for wealthy ones. Without any doubt, it is moral responsibility to help poor people. Also, aiding poor countries allows their governments to provide better living conditions for local public. If you do not trust these governments, you can donate to people directly thanks to some relief organizations. Owing to these causes, wealthy nations have a responsibility to help poorer ones.
References:(1) Parlıyan, Abdullah (2014), Translation of Riyad-us-Saliheen, 117.(2, 3, 5, 6) Andre, Claire and Velasquez, Manuel (1992), World Hunger: A Moral Response, Pre-Faculty Writing Booklet, 183-188.(4) Thomas, M.A. (2012), Rich Donors, Poor Countries, Policy Review, 41-53.
Confirmed by original writer: Ali Can Kanoglu - Turkey
