Overview

In 2020 about 683 million people are estimated to be living under the international poverty line, according to the World Bank. This has a huge negative impact on health - each year, millions of these people die from preventable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrhoea. This immense suffering is easily preventable but is nevertheless neglected. One way to help solve this problem is by donating to charities that focus on poverty alleviation, such as GiveDirectly.

People living in Western countries—like you—are, on average, much wealthier than people living in developing countries. Compared to those living in extreme poverty, you have a much greater capacity to help those who are living in extreme poverty. For these reasons, you are morally obligated to give money to charities—such as Give Directly—to alleviate the suffering of people in developing countries at a minimal cost to yourself.