"Dirt Poor"

What does it exactly mean to be "dirt poor?" We have all heard this phrase in the news or have seen it on the computer. We might have even said it a couple of times when talking about a family nearby.  Well, to actually be dirt poor is something unimaginable.  This is to be so poor where it is a struggle to keep not only a roof over the heads of a family but a dirt floor as well.  For some people of Mali, this isn't a problem.  But for the majority it is.

Thirty-six percent of the population of Mali make a dollar a day. That is, for 36%, $365 a year is a decent salary. Some of us these days, waste this much a day. Imagine needing this much a year.  

Right now, Mali is ranked as one of the ten poorest countries in the world. The world. Agriculture occupies 70% of labor in this country, working conditions being tough.  Since Mali is close to the Sahara, resources such as water and fertile soil are scarce, and the air is extremely dry. 

The population of Mali below the national poverty line is 64%.  Also, Mali is in a multi-billion dollar debt that is a struggle to pay. 

These aspects of course are a threat to the nation of Mali and its survival. Foriegn aid is heavily present to combat this problem.