International Day to Assist the Poor, and which the United Nations (UN) founded in 1995, is observed worldwide on December 19.

According to international experts, about one quarter of the planet’s population—that is, around 1.5 billion people—were living in poverty at the end of the 20th century.

And studies have shown that more than 300 million people died of extreme poverty, from 1999 to 2007.

In this connection, the UN has developed several programs with the objective of eradicating poverty, reported Calend.ru.