Up to 30 million people are facing a humanitarian disaster as -- Lake Chad -- one of Africa's biggest lakes -- shrinks. A recent report published by the United Nations says that, during the past 50 years Lake Chad has gone from being about as large as the state of Maryland to now covering less than one-fifth of that area.
Once one of the biggest bodies of water in the world, it could disappear entirely in about 20 years, explains the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. “If that happens it's going to be a disaster,” the report continued.
Experts claim that the Lake Chad basin is one of the most important agriculture heritage sites in the world -- supporting vast ecosystems, migratory birds and more than 20 million people whose livelihood (fishing and farming) depends on the lake.
“It would be a human disaster, a tragedy,” a spokesperson said, “affecting people who are the poorest of the poor."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
And the winner is ...
A $5 million prize -- established by Sudanese-born businessman Mo Ibrahim to reward good leadership in Africa -- was dramatically awarded Monday to no one. “The Prize Committee has considered some credible candidates,” a committee spokesperson explained in a statement. “However, after in-depth review, the Prize Committee could not select a winner.” Democratically elected African presidents and prime ministers who have left office within the last three years are eligible for the prize. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ghana's ex-President John Kufuor were among those eligible this year.
Mr. Ibrahim, who spoke at Monday's “non-award” event, said the board has accepted the independent prize committee's decision.
The prize is worth more than three times as much money as the Nobel. Last year, it went to Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the former president of Botswana. And the year before that, it went to Joaquim Alberto Chissano, the former president of Mozambique.
This is the first time in the history of the prize that the committee did not name a winner.
Mr. Ibrahim, who spoke at Monday's “non-award” event, said the board has accepted the independent prize committee's decision.
The prize is worth more than three times as much money as the Nobel. Last year, it went to Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the former president of Botswana. And the year before that, it went to Joaquim Alberto Chissano, the former president of Mozambique.
This is the first time in the history of the prize that the committee did not name a winner.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Kenya's drought: an economic disaster
The drought which has hit East Africa is wreaking havoc among the region's herders and pastoralists. Their herds of livestock have been decimated.
“I had a herd of 100 goats but just in the last month 40 have died," said one resident who had walked about 15km (10 miles) and had to carry her goat as it was too weak to make the journey. “Now the children are very weak because, as the animals are dying, they are not getting enough food. This is the worst drought we have had here since 1969.”
Seventy percent of the residents in some regions of Kenya are pastoralists. They rely entirely rely on their livestock for survival. “They get milk and meat from livestock and they sell the animals to buy other items and even pay school fees,” a government spokesperson explained. “Livestock is like the bank for these people. They are losing their entire economy.”
“I had a herd of 100 goats but just in the last month 40 have died," said one resident who had walked about 15km (10 miles) and had to carry her goat as it was too weak to make the journey. “Now the children are very weak because, as the animals are dying, they are not getting enough food. This is the worst drought we have had here since 1969.”
Seventy percent of the residents in some regions of Kenya are pastoralists. They rely entirely rely on their livestock for survival. “They get milk and meat from livestock and they sell the animals to buy other items and even pay school fees,” a government spokesperson explained. “Livestock is like the bank for these people. They are losing their entire economy.”
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Death of Malaria
There is a story out this week that is worthy of note: the war against malaria seems close to being won.
“Each year, there are over 250 million cases and almost one million deaths -- most of them young children, and the vast majority in Africa,” a recent report explains. “But in many countries, malaria is also a success story. Since 2000, the number of reported malaria cases, deaths, or both has declined by at least half in 25 countries.”
Case in point ... Zanzibar, a relatively small but striking example, has virtually eliminated the disease over the past five years. Zambia, too, has greatly expanded the use of proven tools to prevent and treat the disease, such as the use of indoor spraying with insecticides, distribution of bednets, and effective malaria treatment in government clinics. As a result, in three short years, the malaria incidence in Zambia declined by more than 50 percent, and child mortality from all causes, including malaria, declined by 30 percent.
Hope bounds eternal!
“Each year, there are over 250 million cases and almost one million deaths -- most of them young children, and the vast majority in Africa,” a recent report explains. “But in many countries, malaria is also a success story. Since 2000, the number of reported malaria cases, deaths, or both has declined by at least half in 25 countries.”
Case in point ... Zanzibar, a relatively small but striking example, has virtually eliminated the disease over the past five years. Zambia, too, has greatly expanded the use of proven tools to prevent and treat the disease, such as the use of indoor spraying with insecticides, distribution of bednets, and effective malaria treatment in government clinics. As a result, in three short years, the malaria incidence in Zambia declined by more than 50 percent, and child mortality from all causes, including malaria, declined by 30 percent.
Hope bounds eternal!
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