A historically long drought in the Horn of Africa has displaced millions of families while pushing people into poverty and forcing them to resort to extreme measures to ensure their survival. The disregarded effects of extreme weather events, which disproportionately affect poverty-stricken countries and communities, have resulted in very little U.S. congressional action. However, the introduction of a resolution may be the beginning of collective governmental action to provide aid in the Horn of Africa. Rep. Karen Bass [D-CA-37] introduced a resolution (H.Res.1137) for the “drought and endemic food insecurity plaguing the Horn of Africa” in May 2022, acknowledging the role of extreme weather events in the crises afflicting the Horn of Africa.
The Role of US Foreign Aid
The resolution reaffirms the importance of USAID and the role it plays in “meeting humanitarian obligations, cultivating enduring self-reliance in developing nations, ensuring the stability of global financial markets and mitigating the likelihood of conflict in accordance with our national security interests.” Furthermore, the resolution highlights the significance of funding for emergency humanitarian aid in the most disadvantaged countries. “Supporting the development of sustainable agricultural sectors in developing nations and assisting with the international resettlement of refugees escaping droughts and extreme hunger” is also of utmost importance.
The resolution calls on the Biden administration, the Department of State and USAID to take urgent humanitarian action. The U.S. must offer “technical and material assistance, as appropriate and to the extent allowable under Federal law and congressional appropriations,” and must support not only the governments of the countries afflicted but also the organizations aiming to resolve the crisis in the Horn of Africa in order to “alleviate hunger and deliver food aid to communities impacted by the drought in the Horn of Africa.”
While a resolution does not have legal force, it represents the non-binding position of the House or Senate and the Chambers can use it to deal with internal affairs.
The Humanitarian Situation in the Horn of Africa
The Greater Horn of Africa, which consists of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, is an Eastern region of Africa with more than 290 million people, according to the World Bank. This region is experiencing a four-year-long drought, largely impacted by the effects of changing weather patterns that continue to worsen over the years. The drought is one of the “most severe and longest” in recent history, the United Nations Population Fund says.
Besides the lack of access to water and food resources, rising food prices and poverty also afflict the region due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. This economic crisis and food insecurity create a dangerous combination, resulting in starvation and disease as people have to choose between feeding their families or seeking out health care. Many children are especially vulnerable to disease due to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, making them that much more at risk.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing vital aid in the Horn of Africa for those who face malnutrition and disease, prioritizing the health sector.
The crisis in the Horn of Africa detrimentally impacts women as they make “perilous journeys with their families to makeshift shelters in formal and informal camps and face long distances to fetch water, heightening their vulnerability to rape, abuse and exploitation,” the UNFPA explains.
With situations becoming so dire, families are resorting to extreme measures to ensure survival. Girls are dropping out of school and child marriage is becoming more prevalent as “marrying off a daughter means one less mouth to feed,” the UNFPA says. A lack of education keeps girls in cycles of poverty and child marriage has detrimental impacts on not only the girls themselves but on entire economies.
The Crisis in Numbers
Overall, according to the WHO, in the Greater Horn of Africa, more than 46 million people within the region are experiencing acute food insecurity. In Djibouti, 400,000 people require aid but these needs are more pronounced in rural areas. With such suffering in the region, many had to relocate or flee the country as 6,086 million people face internal displacement. About 37,000 people have become refugees.
In Ethiopia, the drought is especially impactful with effects on 17 million people out of 292 million. While organizations such as the WHO are providing as much aid as possible, 51% of Ethiopia still lacks health partners and resources. About 20.4 million are suffering from acute food insecurity and almost 5 million people face internal displacement.
This drought could affect exponentially increased numbers of people in Somalia. Between April and June of 2023, the region could face famine with 8.3 million potentially experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, compared to the 6.7 million Somalis enduring this today. The children of Somalia are harshly impacted, with acute malnutrition predicted to reach 1.8 million children, 513,550 of whom may face severe malnourishment.
The resolution for aid in the Horn of Africa is a strong step in the right direction. More concrete action on the part of the U.S. is necessary to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the most impoverished region of Africa.
– Nixi Hults
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Free Money to Decrease Poverty in Africa
In order to combat poverty in Africa in 2012, the government of Niger began giving monthly payments to more than 100,000 families in poverty. A payment of approximately 9880 XOF ($16 USD) went into their bank accounts every month for two years, which more than doubled each household’s usual budget. The government opted to conduct this experiment based on past trials that proved that receiving sums of money was extremely helpful to households in poverty. The outcome of this experiment was that, when individuals in poverty received free money, they had more time and were able to find productive ways to spend it.
Experiments in Universal Basic Income (UBI)
Today, this experiment has become a precursor to more than 200 trials in 75 countries to provide monetary support to those in poverty. These science-backed trials began in the 1990s, where researchers randomly distributed different types of payment (i.e. credit for a textbook or direct cash) in order to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of each type of payment that every household will find most beneficial. This proposal became “universal basic income” (UBI), where households of a given country consistently receive a set amount of money on top of their current wage. Economist Tavneet Suri explains that this extra income “can [allow individuals to] invest in riskier things because they have their basic needs taken care of.”
These experiments are similarly occurring in Kenya, where the charity GiveDirectly is funding a monthly allowance of 2,250 Kenyan shillings to more than 21,000 people. Each individual receives a phone that dings on the first day of the month to alert them that money went into their account–and it will continue to ding for 12 more years.
GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is a nonprofit organization that began in 2009 with the purpose of sending money directly to those who need it via their phone, focusing on Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It is working to end the stigma that people in poverty use money that they receive for alcohol, and instead provide evidence that this money creates a more productive society. Since its conception, GiveDirectly has given more than $580 million to 1 million individuals in poverty.
Measurable Outcomes of UBI in Africa
Science has proven that providing a steady income for those in poverty is extremely beneficial. Not only do they become more productive, but they are able to work and enjoy their time without worrying about choosing if they will pay rent or eat. Here are some examples of why this tactic has been extremely beneficial when confronting poverty in Africa.
UBI could be one of the largest stepping stones to ending poverty if more countries take interest in it, already showing its effect on poverty in Africa in multiple different countries. With the implementation of this proposal, countries could find themselves with a healthier, happier and more educated population.
– Aspen Oblewski
Photo: Flickr
Education and Digital Inclusion for Young People in Africa
The LIFE Program (Life Skills, ICT, Financial, Entrepreneurship), which Paradigm Initiative established, seeks to bridge the digital divide by providing young people in Africa with relevant ICT skills, such as coding, programming and digital marketing. Here is some information about Paradigm Initiative and the LIFE Program.
About Paradigm Initiative
Paradigm Initiative is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to empower young people in Africa through digital inclusion and advocacy. The organization originated in Nigeria in 2007 and has since expanded to other African countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
The Paradigm Initiative’s main focus is on digital rights advocacy, digital inclusion and digital entrepreneurship. They work to promote policies and practices that protect and expand digital rights for individuals and communities, as well as to provide access to digital skills and technology for underprivileged youth. Additionally, the organization runs various programs and initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of digital entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.
The LIFE Program
The LIFE Program, which Paradigm Initiative founded, equips young people with entrepreneurial and life skills to help them create and manage their own businesses successfully. By doing so, the program aims to empower young people to become self-sufficient and competitive in the job market.
The LIFE Program recognizes the importance of reaching young people where they are and as such, it has developed a range of innovative approaches to training, including mobile classrooms and online training platforms. The program also works closely with local communities and partners to ensure that training is relevant to local needs.
Overall, the LIFE Program is an essential initiative that is contributing to digital inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa. By equipping young people with essential digital, life and business skills, the program is creating a generation of young Africans who are better prepared to take advantage of the opportunities of this new digital age.
The Reasons the LIFE Program is Necessary
According to the United Nations, “Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30.” This presents a significant opportunity for the development of the ICT sector in Africa, as young people are often early adopters of technology. Despite the growth of the ICT sector in Africa, there remains a significant skills gap in the region.
Overall, while there are significant opportunities for the development of the ICT sector in Africa, there are also challenges that need to be addressed, including the skills gap. The goal of the LIFE Program is to empower young Africans to become leaders in their communities and to create a more prosperous and profitable future for themselves and their families. By providing access to education and digital aid, the program is helping to build a more sustainable Africa.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a significant role in empowering youth in Africa. Here are some ways ICT can benefit young people in Africa.
Ways ICT Can Benefit African Youth
Looking Ahead
In conclusion, ICT plays a crucial role in the lives of African youths. It has an impact on education, employment, entrepreneurship, communication, networking and innovation. Therefore, it is essential to invest in ICT infrastructure and NGOs like the Paradigm Initiative and its LIFE Program to empower African youths and support their development.
– Lauryn Defreitas
Photo: Flickr
Nigeria’s Presidential Election Brings Hope
New Presidency Brings Hope
Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress party and former governor of Lagos State located in Southwestern Nigeria will take leadership of a country overrun with Islamist insurgents, conflict between livestock herders and farmers, armed attacks, kidnappings and shortages of electricity and fuel. Not to mention, the currency crisis that is contributing heavily to poverty and uproar.
According to NBC News, citizens feel that the previous ruling party had failed to handle the aforementioned issues in the past, making this election incredibly important for Nigeria’s governmental and economic systems. Tinubu, hoping to gain votes from his previous successes as governor, ran on the pretense of reducing crime and cleaning up Nigeria overall.
The 2023 Nigerian currency crisis arose when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “redesigned the higher denomination notes — 200, 500 and 1,000 naira — to replace the dirty cash in circulation, to tackle inflation, curb counterfeiting and promote a cashless society,” the BBC reports.
Additionally, the redesign was meant to redistribute money hoarded by individuals and organizations into Nigeria’s financial system by requiring citizens to hand in old banknotes in exchange for the new currency. This new government-endorsed monetary system precipitated major protests leading up to the already tense election.
Poverty in Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2021, 63% of persons in Nigeria, equating to 133 million people, lived in conditions of multidimensional poverty.
According to a 2022 report from the World Bank, approximately about 40% of Nigerians live under the national poverty line of $381.75 per year. In Northern Nigeria, which has a much lower population density than Southern Nigeria, many people lack access to basic infrastructure like clean water, electricity and access to education.
Amid the uncertainty of what lies ahead with the reign of a new presidency, organizations are working to combat poverty in the nation. The Lagos Food Bank Initiative works to address hunger, food waste and malnutrition in Lagos State by establishing programs. The programs include a school feeding initiative, nutritious food interventions for mothers and children and family farming programs. Since 2015, the nonprofit “has served up to 160 rural and under-served communities in Lagos State and [more than 2 million] beneficiaries, especially, children between the ages of 0-16 years, the youths and vulnerable women in the rural communities.”
Looking Ahead
Tinubu’s plan for Nigeria includes using the previous president’s public infrastructure initiative to create more employment opportunities in the country. Tinubu will also close tax loopholes and lower corporate tax rates to encourage investments. “A popular fuel subsidy, which cost $10 billion last year and is driving up debt, will be phased out and the money channeled to infrastructure, agricultural and social welfare,” Reuters reports.
To address escalating rates of violence and kidnappings in the nation, Tinubu plans to strengthen soldier and police forces by increasing numbers, raising pay and better equipping these groups. He also wants to establish an organized task force to tackle terrorism and armed gangs specifically.
Tinubu, as the winner of Nigeria’s presidential election, has developed plans to strengthen the economy and uplift the impoverished while addressing other critical issues that prevent the nation from flourishing. Despite several issues impacting Nigeria, there is hope that Tinubu’s previous work of 23 years in Lagos State, though at a much smaller scale, will have similar success at a nationwide level.
– Stella Tirone
Photo: Flickr
Eradicating Sleeping Sickness in Ghana
The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended Ghana for its tremendous and successful efforts in eliminating a number of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The country has gotten extremely close to eradicating sleeping sickness, or human African trypanosomosis, a parasitic disease transmitted to humans through tsetse flies. Ghana has been following a global plan to try to eliminate all neglected tropical diseases by 2030 and has found recent success in eliminating three of the 20 most common tropical diseases.
About Sleeping Sickness
Sleeping sickness, which is a parasitic disease that infected tsetse flies carry, is an epidemic in 36 African countries. If not treated, the condition is almost always fatal. Sleeping sickness disproportionately affects those who live in rural areas because the residents of those areas rely heavily on agriculture, fishing and hunting, which exposes them to these infected flies. Once someone has sleeping sickness, those infected experience fevers, headaches, enlarged lymph nodes, pain in their joints and itching during the early stages of infection. If left untreated, sleeping sickness begins to affect the central nervous system. This begins to affect the patient’s neurological condition where they start to lose coordination, see changes in behavior and personality, confusion and the symptom where the disease gets its name, an interrupted sleep cycle.
Ghana’s Success
Many, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have commended the success that Ghana has had in eliminating sleeping sickness. Ghana has eliminated sleeping sickness while also successfully eradicating two other neglected tropical diseases, guinea worm disease and trachoma. The World Health Organization director-general Dr. Tedros Adhomnom Ghebreyesus commended the government and health workers, saying “This is a historic achievement, proving once again that with dedication and teamwork, we can,” on Twitter.
The fight to eliminate these neglected tropical diseases was elevated when more funding was provided after there was a sharp decline in those receiving proper drugs to help prevent these tropical diseases from 2019 to 2020, where they saw a 34% decline. Ghana received around 19 billion units of medicine and more than $1 billion through foundations in order to help eradicate these diseases.
The Importance
The president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, said in a statement in regard to the benefits of investing in programs that help alleviate these diseases that these programs, “leads to better education, health and employment outcomes, an Africa free from neglected tropical diseases is possible.” Making sure that these programs exist to help fund proper medicine to help fight these diseases while also providing proper education and awareness about these illnesses in order to counteract the stigma associated with them. President Akufo-Addo also explained the domino effect that these programs have, saying, “it leads to better education, health, and employment outcomes, and transforms lives and communities.” These programs help alleviate the hardships that these diseases cause on the people while also having everlasting impacts on these areas for the better.
– Olivia MacGregor
Photo: Flickr
The Inventor Who is Improving Food Safety in Ethiopia
SafeDish is an Ethiopian company behind an award-winning, innovative product that inventor Helen Weldemichael created. Targeted toward making it easier for a local Ethiopian banana-esque plant to undergo processing for consumption, the product helps improve food safety in Ethiopia as a way of combating food insecurity and malnutrition. While doing so, Weldemichael is also empowering female entrepreneurship in Ethiopia.
Foodborne Illnesses in Ethiopia
Foodborne illnesses are of very big concern in countries like Ethiopia. As one of the poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia’s citizens are susceptible to foodborne illnesses. With an economy dependent on agriculture, foodborne illnesses are of particular concern in Ethiopia.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, foodborne illnesses have a greater impact in lower-income countries like Ethiopia. These types of illnesses in Ethiopia have a strong resistance to antibiotics, making it hard for people to receive treatment for them. This alone makes food safety in Ethiopia a top priority.
Also worsening the problem of food safety in Ethiopia is how food choice for some is dependent on whether or not they perceive their food sources as clean. A study of adolescent food choices in Ethiopia by CGIAR found that unaffordable, unavailable and unsanitary food choices may lead to more children eating packaged food, which is not good for their health.
The Potential of Enset
Enset is one Ethiopian plant that people use in the production of traditional foods. Dubbed the “false banana,” Enset is a solution to food insecurity in Ethiopia and the world. Merely 15 enset plants can feed one person for a year, according to Kew Gardens.
Despite this potential, harvesting enset is particularly challenging, especially in some regions of Ethiopia. USAID reports that women tasked with harvesting the plant often do so with their bare hands and feet, which is a risk factor for foodborne illnesses. Enset must also undergo fermentation to make it edible, a process that usually takes nearly a year.
Weldemichael’s Solution
Weldemichael created an enset fermentation pot and machine via her company SafeDish as a way of making the enset harvesting process easier. The product speeds up the fermentation process to allow the enset to become edible sooner. It also promotes a more hygienic fermentation process since her fermentation method uses peat, as opposed to the ground, where people often leave the enset plant to ferment.
She submitted her invention to USAID’s “Feed the Future EatSafe Innovation Challenge” with the intention of sharing her invention with people beyond her country. Her invention was successful, winning the $10,000 grand prize.
With her prize money, Weldemichael plans on expanding SafeDish and her enset product. USAID says she plans to “scale her business by seeking investors, selling other food products across Africa, and trademarking her innovation in Ethiopia and other African countries.”
Weldemichael also mentioned education as a priority, stating that people can change their communities if they receive an education. As a female inventor herself, Weldemichael emphasizes women’s empowerment in her work. Of the total of four SafeDish employees, two are women. Products like Weldemichael’s invention and companies like SafeDish continue to prove why local businesses can find some solutions to issues relating to poverty.
– Mohammad Samhouri
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Fighting Poverty in Ethiopia
The nationwide famine in the 1980s and the genocide in the Tigray region have plummeted Ethiopians into extreme poverty and put the country at the center of international media attention only temporarily. In 2015, more than 23 million people lived below the poverty line and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the challenging conditions. Civil War, poor health and social services and passive ignorance from the international community have reinforced families’ constant economic struggle and disrupted efforts of fighting poverty in Ethiopia. Despite the efforts to drive record economic growth and industrial advancement, more than 5 million people are still in need of aid in the Tigray region.
How USAID is Dealing With the Issue
To address this problem, USAID funded Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) through the Feed the Future initiative, a five-year project that helps the government of Ethiopia solve chronic food insecurity through sustainable solutions.
L4R builds on the practices of its predecessor program, Graduation with Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Development (GRAD). This program provides Ethiopian households with agricultural and financial skills, loans and startup capital to fight extreme poverty in the country. The program has reached more than 97,000 households in Ethiopia. Furthermore, L4R encourages families to join the government’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) with the generous support of USAID’s Feed the Future program. PSNP gives access to participants to microfinance, means to improve on – and off–farm productivity, and enhance links to markets. The program also advocates for women’s empowerment and improved nutritional practices, which proved to be important in to fight against poverty.
Village Economic and Social Associations (VESAs), which local villagers established, further support the beneficiaries through diverse strategies, that focus on gender equity issues, financial literacy, nutrition and resilience towards climate change. USAID published a report in 2015 that stated that GRAD is the most cost-effective investment they have prosecuted in Ethiopia, with an 84% increase in family income and a 40% reduction in weather-related crop loss, according to CARE.
Personal Experiences
Feed the Future documented a lot of personal stories during the duration of the program showing the success of L4R. Wondater Agajalew, who joined Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Program years ago, says how much he profited in a short period and went from extreme poverty to making decent revenue from shoat fattening. The skills he acquired from the USAID-funded programs have encouraged him to escape hardship due to recurrent crop loss because of unpredictable weather.
Another inspiring story describes how Menze Gera’s and her family’s life transformed through L4R. Now their children can enjoy a more nutritiotious diet and a fulfilling and secure social life. Similar stories demonstrate how these programs have entirely changed the lives of ordinary people, given hope for the better and subsequently enhanced measures for fighting poverty in Ethiopia.
These people’s participation in the L4R activity for the past couple of years has generated many positive changes. They have received training on the knowledge and skills necessary for financial decisions and improved practices in agriculture, poultry and gender equity.
L4R serves as a model for a successful effort in tackling such a complex issue, such as fighting poverty in Ethiopia and further demonstrates the need for strategic financial foreign aid and thorough media coverage of the matter. By launching the Feed the Future initiative in Ethiopia, the U.S. Government has invested in improving food security, expediting economic growth opportunities and building resilience. It has modernized agriculture and established various national-level development strategies that support Ethiopia’s goal to “become a prosperous, middle-income country by 2025.”
– Nino Basaria
Photo: Flickr
Child Mortality in the Central African Republic
Child mortality in the Central African Republic (CAR) is a significant issue. According to UNICEF, in 2021, the CAR had one of the worst child mortality rates in the entire world, with 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, which equates to about one in 10 children dying before their fifth birthday. This issue of child mortality in the CAR is a multifaceted issue that has deeply rooted itself in the country.
Causes of Child Mortality in the Central African Republic
Researchers conducted a study in 2020 with the help of the Ministry of Health and Population and the Central African Institute for Statistics and Economic and Social Studies, which sheds light on the rampant child mortality in the CAR. The researchers conducted the study in one prefecture of the CAR called Ouaka, in which the researchers interviewed a sample size of 4,000 residents.
According to the study, 64% of the deaths of children under 5 resulted from three treatable diseases — malaria, diarrhea and respiratory infections. Usually, diseases like diarrhea are simple to treat, however, in the CAR, inadequate access to health care presents barriers.
Doctors Without Borders discusses in an article why children in the CAR risk mortality even though these diseases are treatable. Firstly, parents attempt traditional medicine before taking their children to skilled health professionals, and by the time the parents seek out professional care, the child is in a severe state of health.
Additionally, urgent medical attendance is delayed by the fact that the distance to get to a hospital or health care center is long for those in rural locations. Many parents do not vaccinate their kids, which also impacts child mortality in the CAR. Many children have not received critical childhood immunizations, Doctors Without Borders says.
According to a 2012 article by Doctors Without Borders, 13% of under 5 child deaths in the CAR occurred while traveling to a hospital and 60% of child deaths occurred at home.
Doctors Without Borders Takes Action
Doctors Without Borders has worked in the CAR since 1997. From 2015 onward, Doctors Without Borders carried out a vaccination campaign to immunize more than 213,000 children in the CAR against nine common illnesses. During this campaign, the organization administered more than 1 million vaccines to children under 5. The Doctors Without Borders team also introduced preventative measures, such as, “distributing vitamin A, bed nets, anti-parasite treatment and screening for malnutrition,” its website says. Since then, the organization has launched many other immunization initiatives in the country.
For instance, in January 2020, the Ministry of Health in the CAR warned of a countrywide measles epidemic. In response, Doctors Without Borders held a large-scale measles vaccination initiative with the goal of immunizing more than 340,000 children in seven health zones in the CAR.
Overall the prevalence of child mortality in the CAR is concerning, however, it has seen an impressive decrease in the rate of death with the help of organizations like Doctors Without Borders. In 2000, under-5 child mortality rates in the CAR stood at 166 deaths. In 2012, more than 10 years later, under-5 child mortality in the CAR stood at 123 deaths but reduced to 100 in 2021.
Due to the ongoing work of organizations, there is hope for child mortality in the Central African Republic to continue decreasing in the coming years.
– David Keenan
Photo: Flickr
Aid in the Horn of Africa
A historically long drought in the Horn of Africa has displaced millions of families while pushing people into poverty and forcing them to resort to extreme measures to ensure their survival. The disregarded effects of extreme weather events, which disproportionately affect poverty-stricken countries and communities, have resulted in very little U.S. congressional action. However, the introduction of a resolution may be the beginning of collective governmental action to provide aid in the Horn of Africa. Rep. Karen Bass [D-CA-37] introduced a resolution (H.Res.1137) for the “drought and endemic food insecurity plaguing the Horn of Africa” in May 2022, acknowledging the role of extreme weather events in the crises afflicting the Horn of Africa.
The Role of US Foreign Aid
The resolution reaffirms the importance of USAID and the role it plays in “meeting humanitarian obligations, cultivating enduring self-reliance in developing nations, ensuring the stability of global financial markets and mitigating the likelihood of conflict in accordance with our national security interests.” Furthermore, the resolution highlights the significance of funding for emergency humanitarian aid in the most disadvantaged countries. “Supporting the development of sustainable agricultural sectors in developing nations and assisting with the international resettlement of refugees escaping droughts and extreme hunger” is also of utmost importance.
The resolution calls on the Biden administration, the Department of State and USAID to take urgent humanitarian action. The U.S. must offer “technical and material assistance, as appropriate and to the extent allowable under Federal law and congressional appropriations,” and must support not only the governments of the countries afflicted but also the organizations aiming to resolve the crisis in the Horn of Africa in order to “alleviate hunger and deliver food aid to communities impacted by the drought in the Horn of Africa.”
While a resolution does not have legal force, it represents the non-binding position of the House or Senate and the Chambers can use it to deal with internal affairs.
The Humanitarian Situation in the Horn of Africa
The Greater Horn of Africa, which consists of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, is an Eastern region of Africa with more than 290 million people, according to the World Bank. This region is experiencing a four-year-long drought, largely impacted by the effects of changing weather patterns that continue to worsen over the years. The drought is one of the “most severe and longest” in recent history, the United Nations Population Fund says.
Besides the lack of access to water and food resources, rising food prices and poverty also afflict the region due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. This economic crisis and food insecurity create a dangerous combination, resulting in starvation and disease as people have to choose between feeding their families or seeking out health care. Many children are especially vulnerable to disease due to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, making them that much more at risk.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is providing vital aid in the Horn of Africa for those who face malnutrition and disease, prioritizing the health sector.
The crisis in the Horn of Africa detrimentally impacts women as they make “perilous journeys with their families to makeshift shelters in formal and informal camps and face long distances to fetch water, heightening their vulnerability to rape, abuse and exploitation,” the UNFPA explains.
With situations becoming so dire, families are resorting to extreme measures to ensure survival. Girls are dropping out of school and child marriage is becoming more prevalent as “marrying off a daughter means one less mouth to feed,” the UNFPA says. A lack of education keeps girls in cycles of poverty and child marriage has detrimental impacts on not only the girls themselves but on entire economies.
The Crisis in Numbers
Overall, according to the WHO, in the Greater Horn of Africa, more than 46 million people within the region are experiencing acute food insecurity. In Djibouti, 400,000 people require aid but these needs are more pronounced in rural areas. With such suffering in the region, many had to relocate or flee the country as 6,086 million people face internal displacement. About 37,000 people have become refugees.
In Ethiopia, the drought is especially impactful with effects on 17 million people out of 292 million. While organizations such as the WHO are providing as much aid as possible, 51% of Ethiopia still lacks health partners and resources. About 20.4 million are suffering from acute food insecurity and almost 5 million people face internal displacement.
This drought could affect exponentially increased numbers of people in Somalia. Between April and June of 2023, the region could face famine with 8.3 million potentially experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse, compared to the 6.7 million Somalis enduring this today. The children of Somalia are harshly impacted, with acute malnutrition predicted to reach 1.8 million children, 513,550 of whom may face severe malnourishment.
The resolution for aid in the Horn of Africa is a strong step in the right direction. More concrete action on the part of the U.S. is necessary to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the most impoverished region of Africa.
– Nixi Hults
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Vulnerable Populations During Brazil’s COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted millions of individuals across the globe, leaving vulnerable populations with unequal access to resources. As of February 2023, Brazil has had 36 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. Brazil is a large country with various regions; however, some communities were more vulnerable than others during the pandemic. Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic left the country with a better understanding of how some populations ended up more vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Living in Brazil’s Poverty During the Pandemic
The Brazilian Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) reported that those who live in working-class neighborhoods or “favelas” are more likely to contract infectious and contagious diseases. Favelas are overcrowded and contain millions of inhabitants. That is one reason why residents are more apt to contract airborne diseases. Furthermore, favela residents lack access to health care and sanitation. It’s also why Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic hit residents in the most poverty-stricken favelas much harder than those in other neighborhoods.
AE: Brazil’s Financial COVID Response to Poverty-Stricken Families
As one response to COVID, Brazil’s federal government implemented Auxílio Emergency (Emergency Aid) (AE) to aid low-income families. When first launched, AE supported poverty-stricken families with a minimum of five $600 installments, and households led by single mothers received double that amount. Over time, the program lowered these benefits, this public relief aid received global recognition. In fact, Brazil ranked as having the fifth largest governmental response.
Violence Against Women
The World Bank reported increased risks of gender-based violence (GBV) within the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Calls to domestic violence helplines increased in Brazil. During the time of isolation and lockdown, femicides doubled. In 2020, Brazil had 1,350 recorded cases of femicide. At the beginning of the pandemic, strict quarantine measures bolstered this increased violence. Later during the pandemic, job loss and financial instability contributed.
Combatting Violence Against Women
Luckily, Brazil already had services in place to combat violence against women. Signed into Brazilian law in 2006, the Maria da Penha Law provides women safety against domestic violence because any violence against a woman violates human rights. Forms of violence can include physical, psychological, sexual and patrimonial against women of any age. This law helps women find care and offers urgent protective measures. The law has assisted more than 3,364,000 since its initial signing in 2006.
Helplines and safe spaces further mitigate the threat of violent escalation. For example, one can report any situation of domestic violence to the Women’s Hotline (Central de Atendimento à Mulher).
Indigenous Populations and COVID-19
Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic also disproportionately affected indigenous communities. Brazil is home to 896,917 indigenous persons in 305 ethnic groups. Mortality among indigenous populations was 6.5 times greater than in the rest of the population of Brazil during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the reason for this is that about a third of indigenous villages have access to clean water and sanitation. Access to hospitals is also worse for indigenous Brazilian communities. Additionally, indigenous people in Brazil face stigma and discrimination even when they can access health care services.
To combat symptoms of COVID-19 during the beginning of the pandemic, some indigenous populations such as the Xavante community turned to traditional medicine. United Nations Human Rights Senior Indigenous Fellow from Brazil and member of the Xavante people, Ro’otsitsina Juruna, reported, “Many indigenous people did not want to take the so-called Western medicines, so instead they began to take and practice more traditional medicine, through roots, teas and ablutions. I believe this strengthened our culture.”
As the pandemic continued, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) worked to provide indigenous populations with accessible and accurate information about prevention and care. It advocated for state governments to educate indigenous communities about how to seek help in case of symptoms. It also pushed for information about COVID prevention and treatment to be written in as many indigenous languages as possible and allow communities information about the virus to indigenous peoples in as many indigenous languages and formats (oral, written, child friendly).
Reflection on Brazil’s COVID-19 Pandemic
Because Brazil’s government and national and international humanitarian organizations have intervened to help these vulnerable groups, they have mitigated the harm done even in the most vulnerable populations. Further, Brazil’s COVID-19 pandemic response helped the country better understand the factors contributing to the vulnerabilities.
– Yv Maciel
Photo: Flickr
Improving Mental Health in Libya
Many regard Libya as a war-torn developing country, but media coverage of the conflict often disregards the underlying mental health crisis. In 2020, the world saw a global increase in Common Mental Disorders (CMD) and Libya is no exception. As a result of many factors, including war and lack of resources, mental health services in Libya are lacking. Despite this, NGOs and agencies are working to improve mental health in Libya.
The Impact of War
According to a study by Sheikh Shoib and others published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry in 2022, conflict and war affect the mental health of about 50% of Libya’s population, but less than 10% receive adequate help and support.
The World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Report 2001 estimated that, in situations of armed conflicts throughout the world, “10% of the people who experience traumatic events will have serious mental health problems and another 10% will develop behavior that will hinder their ability to function effectively.” Furthermore, the most common mental impacts include depression, anxiety and psychosomatic problems. Research shows that conflict and war cause more death and disability than any other significant disease.
Lack of Resources
Because Libya is a hotspot of conflict, research in the field of mental health is not a priority as the government directs time and resources toward “addressing elevated morbidity, mortality and health system challenges directly and/or indirectly associated to war,” a study by Nassim El Achi and others says. When political authorities and governments focus their agendas on engaging in conflict, the population suffers due to a lack of resources.
The 2020 Mental Health Atlas by WHO indicates a total of 84 licensed psychiatrists in the whole of Libya, which means less than two psychiatrists per 100,000 members of the population. In comparison, in 2015, the U.S. had 16 psychiatrists per 100,00 people.
The Mental Health Atlas 2020 showed that per 100,000 population, the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), which includes Libya, has approximately eight mental health workers made up of one psychiatrist, one psychologist, three psychiatric nurses, 0.4 social workers and 0.7 other types of mental health workers, highlighting the scarcity of trained mental health professionals in the EMR region at large.
Research in the study of mental health in Libya is also lacking due to underfunding considering the economic state of the country as a result of the war. With few studies, the availability of epidemiological data in regard to mental health is limited, making progress difficult to monitor.
Social Stigma
Stigmas and societal taboos can also impact mental health. There is a cultural stigma around women getting divorced and there are gender biases that exacerbate mental health issues, particularly for women. Women only make up 25.7% of the labor force in Libya, which demonstrates that women do not have the same autonomy as men, which may worsen mental health issues. Additionally, cultural beliefs impact mental health as society attributes mental illness to bad spirits or “jinn.” People often deny the existence of mental illnesses due to the taboo nature of a diagnosis.
Looking Forward
Although the situation surrounding mental health in Libya does seem dire, organizations are working toward improving mental health facilities and services in Libya and other MENA countries.
Hope Charity is a charity that supports Libyan women’s mental health, founded by Rugaya Gleasa’s late husband, Omar Mettawa. Hope Charity supports Libyan women with capacity-building programs, including tech training, English lessons, nursing training and sewing and cooking lessons, which will allow women to gain autonomy and improve their mental well-being. Since 2011, Hope Charity has helped more than 250,000 women, many of whom run their own small businesses now.
The charity also offers psychosocial and legal support to women in Libya to promote their well-being. Providing psychosocial support is one of the most difficult tasks for the charity due to societal taboos surrounding mental health, however, it is extremely rewarding. The charity has since become well-recognized and established within the field of mental health in Libya and women are now seeking out the charity, specifically for psychosocial support, demonstrating the impact Hope Charity has had in shifting societal perceptions of mental health.
The mental health situation in countries facing conflict is dire, however, it is not without resolution. By supporting charities and nonprofit organizations that work to improve mental health in Libya, the well-being of Libyans can improve.
– Safa Ali
Photo: Flickr