The southern African region is considered the world’s least developed countries, and the United Nations considers them most at risk of remaining in poverty and requiring the international community’s greatest support. (CARE USA)  It is the responsibility of the international community and the United States to communicate with these governments and provide relief aid to assist them in their troubles.  Not one international power has responded drastically enough to the current devastation that is occurring every day.  There are over 1,200 adults dying from the AIDS virus in southern Africa everyday, and over 1,000 children being orphaned every day.  The massive amount of lives lost pose significant health and emotional risks to children and adults alike.  The international community must take a stance on this problem and offer assistance before they realize the next genocide is on their hands. 
    The United States has a responsibility as the hegemonic power to intervene in these underdeveloped countries and provide support to not only the children, but to the governments of the weakened countries.  As the hedgemon, the United States takes an active role as the mother country.  Currently, the United States provides aid to the governments of seven southern African countries.  This aid is not assured to directly combat the AIDS virus, but is instead routed towards developing democracy, and strengthening internal governments.  The United States Agency for Internal Development (USAID) is responsible for distributing relief funds to different countries throughout the world.  However, there is no direct fund that assures direct relief for HIV/AIDS.  The main reason that the United States does not help the southern African crisis is that the region does not hold any resources that are of use to the United States.  It is not in the United States’ best interests to help the southern African countries.  It could be said that the United States is protecting its sovereignty.  However, it is the responsibility of the United States as the hegemonic power and as the richest country in the world to assist these children in need. 
    The United States is one of two countries that have not signed the most universally accepted document; The Convention on the Rights of the Child.  We believe that the first step towards the United States involvement in southern Africa is for the government of the United States to sign the Convention.  If the United States signs and ratifies this document, they are bound by signature to help the children in southern Africa.  This would allow NGOs and Governmental and International organizations to put pressure on the executive to take action.  As of now, the United States can pretend to ignore the situation, because the only thing binding them to the southern African states is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Which we know from history, the United States looks at with a type of liaise-faire attitude.
     However, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the United States has signed and ratified, gives every human being the right to life.  Effectively, the United States and the rest of the world are denying these children a right to live by ignoring them and the current southern African crisis that they are a part of.  By denying these children and their parents a right to life, the international community could be charged with neglect and murder of these children.
     It is however, not only the role of the United States to help these countries.  Countries in Europe and Asia that have signed onto and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child should have every incentive and right to intervene into these countries and provide relief aid to the sick, starving and homeless children.  These children are dying daily, are lonely, and are living on the streets and starving.  They need the help of international governments and non-governmental organizations to save their lives.