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Florence, Italy, in September 1944, one year after its surrender to the Allies during World War II.

THE UN’S MISSION The United Nations, established in 1945, would attempt to address poverty, education, and social development in the devel- oping world. While its primary mission at the beginning was maintaining security and peace in the world, the organization included “solving international problems of economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character” in Article 1 of its charter. It would come to take an active role immediately after the war and in the following decades in doing just that.

Poverty in War-Weary Europe The economic situation in postwar Europe was dire. The conflict destroyed entire cities and the industrial produc- tion of most countries. Millions had become displaced, with many seeking refuge in strange and unfamiliar coun- tries. Agricultural production vanished, leading to starva- tion in many regions. Jobs were in short supply. According to data cited by historian Tony Judt in his book, Postwar: A History of Europe since 1945 , by 1950 some 25 percent of Italian families lived in poverty. Less than half lived in a house with an indoor toilet. Many villages and towns did not have any public water supplies or sanitation facilities. In West Germany, more than 17 million people were considered “needy” because they were homeless. Even the victorious British continued to ration food years after the war’s end. Few Europeans owned a house, a car, or a refrigerator.

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EDUCATION, POVERTY, AND INEQUALITY