Bangladesh
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Population: 164.4 million (UN, 2010)
Capital City: Dhaka, 6.7 million population (approx)
People: Bengalis (98%), and small numbers of tribes people.
Languages: Bangla, and some tribal languages. English is quite widely spoken by those with education.
Religion(s): Islam (89%), Hinduism (10%). Buddhists and Christians make up about 1% of the population
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with its people crammed into a delta of rivers that empties into the Bay of Bengal. Poverty is deep and widespread; almost half of the population live on less than one dollar a day. However, Bangladesh has reduced population growth and improved health and education.
Climate change means the people of Bangladesh have suffered due to higher tides and heavier monsoons. More than two million of the poorest people live on islands caused by flooding. Most families are unprepared for the floods. Hundreds of bamboo and corrugated iron shacks are home to those most affected.
Caravan of Mercy run numerous projects in Bangladesh, such as building water wells, running of schools/Makaatib, orphan sponsorship and self supporting projects. Most of our projects are carried out in the deprived districts of Sunamgunj, Sirajgunj, Kurigram and Dinajpur, difficult to access rural areas.
Gambia
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Area: 4,007 sq mi – The smallest country on mainland Africa
Water: 11.5%
Population: 1.849 million (2013)
Capital City: Banjul
People: The Gambia is made up of several ethnic groups, including the Mandinka (the largest), the Fula, the Wolof, the Jola and the Serahuli.
Language(s): English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, and other indigenous languages are widely spoken.
Religion(s): The Gambia is predominantly Muslim (90%), but there is a significant Christian community (8%) and indigenous beliefs (2%) are also practised. Religious tolerance is good.
Currency: Gambian dalasi
The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, as well as one of the poorest. Poverty is prevalent and largely rural. More than 60 per cent of the rural population is classified as poor. Despite the presence of the Gambia River, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable.
Annually, poor people in rural areas face the ‘hungry season’, a 2-4 month period at the peak of the rainy season, between July and September, when household food stocks are low or minimal.
Caravan of Mercy has been working in The Gambia since 2006, having set up a registered office there, we have successfully built 2 schools and an orphanage.
Ghana
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Area: 239,000 sq km
Population: 24,791,073 (2011 estimate)
Capital City: Accra, 2.269 million (2009 estimate)
People and languages: The official language is English. There are around 75 spoken languages and numerous ethnic groups, including the Akan, the Mossi, the Ewe, the Ga-Adangme, the Fante, and the Hausa
Currency: Cedi
Liberia
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Area: 43,000 sq mi
Population: 4.294 million (2013)
Capital City: Monrovia
Languages: Liberian English
Religion: Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs
Currency: Liberian dollar
Ivory Coast
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Area: 124,502 sq mi
Water: 1.4
Population: 20.32 million (2013)
Capital City: Yamoussoukro
Languages: French
Currency: West African CFA franc
Central Africa Republic
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Area: 240,534 sq mi
Water: 0
Population: 4.616 million (2013)
Capital City: Bangui
Languages: Sango, French
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
India
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Area: 3,287,623m sq km (1,269,219 sq miles)
Population: 1.21 billion (provisional Government of India Census data, 2011)
Capital City: New Delhi
Languages: The official language of India is Hindi, written in the Devanagari script and spoken by some 30% of the population as a first language. Since 1965 English has been recognised as an ‘associated language’. In addition there are 18 main and regional languages recognised for adoption as official state languages.
Religions: India is a secular state and freedom of religion is protected under the Constitution. The main religious groups are Hindus (80.5%), Muslims (13.4%), Christians (2.3%) and Sikhs (1.9%).
Yemen
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Area: 115.7/sq mi
Population: 23,833,000
Capital City: Sana’a
Languages: Arabic
Currency: Yemeni rial (YER)
Pakistan
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Area: 803,940 sq km (499,545 sq miles)
Capital City: Islamabad
Population: 177 million
Population below poverty line: 43 million
Literacy rate: Male: 63% / Female: 35.2% / Total: 49.9%
People: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% Official languages: English and Urdu
Religions: Islam (97%), Hinduism, Christianity and others (3%)
Syria
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Area :186,475 km²
Capital City: Damascus
Population: 22.4 million (2012) World Bank
Official Languages: Arabic Language