Often these individuals are innocent casualties of events beyond their control. The numbers are staggering with displaced refugees, flood and earthquake victims numbering in the millions. It will take decades to heal the scars in Kosovo, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Turkey and Mozambique. As tragic as these disasters are, we have to realize that these problems are just the tip of the iceberg. These disasters are occurring on a regular basis against a backdrop of unimaginable poverty.
Every year millions die of starvation or from a lack of medicine.
Nearly one third of the world's population are malnourished, live in substandard housing and lack the basic necessities of life. Our environmental problems are escalating as well. 1999 was the third hottest year on record. For the last three years in a row, global warming has reached new heights. Record floods and hurricanes are becoming more common as ocean temperatures and sea levels rise precipitously.