Children

Sold as a slave to an affluent California family of 7, a servitude contract of ten years, was the fate of a 9 year old girl in Ciro, Egypt. Sold by her parents, who received a measly sum for the price of their daughter, Shyima soon found herself no longer a child, but a piece of property, to be used and abused at will. Dubbed a ‘real life Cinderella’, Shyima, was hidden behind closed doors, given only a space in the garage….of a million dollar mansion. Given only a dirty mattress, no heat or air conditioning, verbally abused and forced work around 20 hours a day…Shyima’s life in America was a far cry from the American dream. Demoralized the young girls was led to believe there was no escape from her prison, told no one would believe her, the authorities would only abuse her. Unable to communicate in English, the now 10 year old Shyima was even more vulnerable, and helpless to seek rescue.

Thankfully this ‘Cindrella’ story has a happy ending…Shyima, finally has a ‘real’ family and a bright future! Now 17 she has been adopted by a loving family, with five other siblings, and is excelling in High School, for Shyima, the hell of modern day slavery is over. Unlike Shyima, many children do not share the same fate, as they remain hidden behind closed doors and bound by the ‘invisible chains’ of modern slavery. Kevin Bales, of Free the Slaves, explained the ‘invisible chains’ that bind victims of slavery, and how Shyima’s was a classic case. Bales, estimates 27 million people are being enslaved around the world, 15,000 of which are brought into the U.S. every year.

After 16 months as a slave to the family of Nassar Ibriham, Shyima was finally rescued, thanks to an anonymous tip. For their crimes Nassar Ibriham was given 3 years, while his wife Amal was given 22 months, a small price to pay for the ten years the planned to hold Shyima, and would have if not for the nameless savior who alerted authorities to Shyima’s plight. Nassar Ibriham, blamed his ignorance of the law for his role in bringing Shyima to American and enslaving her…can one believe that the law says its within the legal relm to own a human being and force them to live in conditions worse than a dog in the garage?

The lesson to be learned here, is that it is here in the United States, and it is a problem. We must fight, not only for the children we can see being abused, but those that are hidden behind closed doors. If you see anything suspicious happening to a child, report it, and look out for signs of slavery, abuse and neglect. Shyima, was held for almost a year and a half before she was rescued, during this time she was hidden behind closed doors. However others where allowed to see into her world, as while enslaved Shyima, tended to guests at parties and dinners, yet no one heard her silent cries. Neighbors of the family stated that they believed she was a cousin of the family, and did not suspect anything. Seriously, can it be we in our society do not have suspicions of a child living in a bustling and active home, that is rarely able to leave the front door, and never leaves the house…not even to go to school? A child who in a wealthy home, wears clothing almost resembling rages, is only seen doing chores…a child who seems to be living in constant fear of punishment?

We must live with our eyes open and realize the truth, however hideous, is often right next door and is always in our backyard!

Please see my other post’s on Child Trafficking and Slavery, for further information and references.

If you where unable to view the Primetime special tonight, please see Modern Day Slavery: Shyima’s Story, for more information.

Links:
Parents Make 10-Year-Old Egyptian Girl Their Houseslave
Domestic prisoner prevails

Shyima, a 9-year-old Egyptian girl, was sold into slavery and shipped from Cairo to work in California. (Photo courtesy of ABC News and Immigration & Customs Enforcement)

Free the Slaves’ President, Kevin Bales, will be featured on ABC’s Primetime news magazine show tonight. The show tells the story of a young girl who was enslaved by a family in California and forced to serve as their maid without pay. Kevin was consulted to explain the phenomenon of modern slavery and explain how we can end slavery forever.

Primetime airs on ABC at 9pmc/10pme, find your local station online.

Commentary to follow!

Are Corporations Sabotaging Child Health to Increase Profit? Misleading advertisements and an onslaught of promotional materials for infant formulas seem to plague the Philippines. Breastfeeding by Filipino mothers seems to be an outdated practice, almost extinct, and who’s to blame?

It is scientifically proven, and agreed upon by all reliable medical professionals, that exclusively breastfeeding infants for the first six months, is vital to ensuring adequate developmental health. Breastfeeding, combined with complementary foods, for the first two years is also seen as paramount for the greatest development of a child. Although many debate around the world about the length of time that a child should be breastfeed, its is not widely disputed for the first six months of infancy.

The fight for breastfeeding over formula feeding in the Philippines has been raging on for decades, but earlier this year the debate increased, as the concern over infants health appears to becoming rather ominous. In July 2006, the Health Department of the Philippines placed a ban on the advertisement and promotion of breast-milk substitutes, the international companies responded with temporary restraining order on the policy’s implementation and have made challenges in the name of free trade. In February 2007, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, claimed formula campaigns have manipulated data from the WHO and UNICEF, the campaigns have been done in part by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) and the Filipino Department of Health.

“The aggressive marketing practices by milk companies contribute to misleading the public by claiming that breastfeeding can not be done by a majority of women and that their products raise healthy, smart and happy babies.”

The Philippine Milk Code and The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes are both being violated by formula companies and healthcare providers. Promotions, incentive plans, promo-gift bags at hospitals, and free samples seem to be available almost everywhere, all of which are of which are part of the problem. A problem which seems to be acerbated by a lack of education on the facts and health benefits of breastfeeding, and the potential risks of using formula exclusively. Regardless of the law, there seems to be little enforcement of it, and advertising by companies heavily outweighs the efforts of awareness campaigns.

Expose on the Fight for for Breastfeeding in the Philippines

Part 1 of 5, please see the remaining videos at the bottom of this article.

The real issues for debate and worry in the Philippines, is not that women are choosing not to breastfeed due to health issues, or even time restraints, but that they are blatantly misinformed about the benefits of breastfeeding and lead to believe that their children will be physically stronger and more intelligent, should they use formula.

“…these ads have undermined the mothers’ confidence in being able to provide their babies with the perfect food that is also a medicine, immunity booster, IQ enhancer, environment-friendly and most of all, free.”(UNICEF on breastmilk substitutes: Filipino mothers are misled, national law is violated)

UNICEF estimates that 20% of infant deaths in the Philippines are related to bottle feeding, while the WHO estimates that 16,000 children under 5 die each year in the Philippines as they are not adequately feed. According to UNICEF formula feed babies in the first two months are 25% more likely to die from diarrhea, 4% pneumonia, have increased respiratory tract illnesses, which is the leading cause of death of children in the Philippines.

9 month old bottle feeding victim incites a march of health advocates on the Supreme Court, December 6, 2006

Formula can also become contaminated and lead to other preventable illnesses, as well asthma, allergies and other conditions which breastfeeding helps eliminate. Health benefits of breastfeeding include the decreased risk of: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS), gastroenteritis, diarrhea, asthma, allergies, urinary tract infections, chest infection and wheezing,ear infection, obesity and diabetes.

The social and economic benefits of breastfeeding also outweigh formula feeding, as mothers have increased bonding with baby, their are a number of health benefits to the mothers, including birth control, and not to mention that it allows families to save much needed money. Woman are convinced to spend money they do not have to by formula for their children, and for a family on a limited budget, let alone living on the poverty line, breastfeeding cannot only increase the health of both mother and child, but it can also prevent a huge financial burden. Formula in the Philippines is expensive at around 4,000 pesos ($87.00) a month for one child, while the average monthly income is only 10,161 pesos ($225.37), the WHO estimates that Filipinos spend around $400,000 a year to formula-feed their infants.

While the debate rages on formula companies are finding their ways around the system, by promoting so-called ‘mothers milks’, which are being promoted to pregnant and lactating mothers. As with infant formulas, the products are everywhere, by mail, free samples, gift bags, etc., and while the promotion of such products is not breaking the rules of the Philippine Milk Code or the International Code of Breast Milk Substitutes, it is blatantly ‘Stretching the Rules’, and is highly unnecessary for mothers and the message is potentially harmful. Once again it appears the industry is preying on vulnerable mothers, leading them to believe that if they do not use these ‘mothers milks’, that they cannot effectively breastfeed babies.

It looks like the health of Filipino children continues to remain at high risk, as the corporate voice continues to outweigh that of health and reason. The best defense for the children of the Philippines is adequate education for mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding, and how they can effectively incorporate it into their daily lives, along with a true crack down on companies violating both the Philippine Milk Code and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Corporations need to take responsibility for the health of infants and children, including the death and illnesses that their misleading, and greedy campaigns have caused. We cannot allow consumers to be bullied into purchasing consumer products, especially when the lives of millions of innocent children’s health and lives are at risk.
Please see my post, Infants Rights to Nutrition, from April 2, 2007, for more information on the issue of breast feeding.

Links:
The Philippine Milk Code: A Time Line
The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)
Brest Milk Action
Rehydration Project
Factors Predisposing Infants To Gastroenteritis Among Poor, Urban, Filipino Families
Boycott Nestlé - protect infants - Blog on UK Formula Boycots
Breastfeeding 123 - blog

Remaining Video Feeds:

“Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out…and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel. …And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for “the universal brotherhood of man” — with his mouth.” - Mark Twain

Children are the most victimized of all victims, of war. As our world continues to engage in genocide after genocide, and war after war, children are continuously brutalized and killed in the name of greed. While war has been with us from the beginning of time, the victimization of children continues to rise. Our inability to learn from history is costing millions and millions of children their innocence, and their lives. As long as we ignore the atrocities that millions of children face every day, we as a society are all to blame for washing the blood from the hands of those who commit such crimes.

Two Zimbabwean Children in Search of Food

The children of Zimbabwe are no strangers to struggle, for they have fallen through the cracks from colonialism, civil war, and now to the long and frightful rule of Mugabe.  With the heavy hand of Mugabe has come the political violence that it has become everyday life under his rule. Children are suffering more than anyone in the country, which is torn by political violence, poverty, HIV/AIDS and a heavily lacking infrastructure, all of which is exacerbated by continuous food shortages.

Freedom’s are not always as they seem, especially of the press, which is often restricted, including the exclusion of some international media. International human rights organizations report that the government of Zimbabwe has been in violation of numerous basic human rights of its citizens. The right to adequate housing, food, freedom of movement, press and assembly top the list of violations.

The rights of Women are seriously violated in Zimbabwe, leaving children, especially girls, even more disadvantaged. As the country has become an ever increasingly dependent economically, the fight for essential human rights becomes an even more difficult. The fight for issues such as combating sex discrimination, forced marriage, domestic violence against women, and other abuses seems to only increase.

What do you sell when you have nothing left to sell, you have no money, no food, little water, and no prospects of employment? The future looks bleak and so you sell the only thing you have left…your own child! For if you cannot sale one child then how can you feed the others? This is a daily struggle for many in Zimbabwe, and as recent articles have illustrated, Daughters fetch high prices as brides. One man who sold his underage daughter, explained how he came to the decision to sell her:

“The pain of seeing my family go without food and other basic necessities drove me into such a decision. At that age, Miriam should have been in school and, being as intelligent as she is, might have ended up as a doctor or pilot, but poverty has rendered that only a pipedream.”

The biggest problem for women, and inherently for children, is that most are completely unaware of their rights, and thus violations continue with little, to no persecution. Children’s rights continue to be violated by the use of child labor, inadequate food and water supplies, housing and access to health care, but they are subsequently re-violated each time their parents rights are violated. The government of Zimbabwe and the international community has failed to protect the children in Zimbabwe, leaving them vulnerable for even more human rights abuses, such as sexual and physical abuse, and making them even more susceptible for illness and disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), life expectancy at birth 37 years for men and 34 for women, the lowest figures for any country in the world. With such a short life expectancy, children are doomed from birth, and almost instantly find their futures slipping away.

“The world must differentiate between the politics and the people of Zimbabwe,” said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy, speaking in Johannesburg. “Every day children in Zimbabwe are dying of HIV/AIDS, every day children are becoming infected, orphaned, and forced to leave school to care for sick parents. The global generosity towards tsunami victims was inspiring, but it has dried up for Zimbabwean children who are facing a deadly crisis every day of their lives.” (UNICEF -Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children)

HIV/AIDS is main contributing factor to the struggle of children, as over 1.6 million people in the country have the virus, many unable to receive any medical treatment. In an already strained environment, countless children are being left orphans, many of whom end up living on the streets, amid the growing poverty and violence. ‘The under-five mortality rate has risen 50% since 1990 (now 1 death for every 8 births), One hundred babies become HIV-positive every day in Zimbabwe, One in five Zimbabwean children are now orphans (1 million from HIV/AIDS), A child dies every 15 minutes due to HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe, 160,000 children will experience the death of a parent in 2005 (UN).’ The AIDS crisis is only becoming more grave, as the number of orphans spikes as Zimbabwe crises deepens, now leaving over a quarter of a million children parentless.

With Mugabe’s government completely unwilling to doing anything to rectify the current political and social situation in the country, the future for Zimbabwe’s children continues to look bleak. Unless the international community puts a heavy foot down and steps in to aid the children of Zimbabwe with large scare humanitarian efforts. A well as the UN and international governments must push the Mugabe and his corrupt government for political change and action, otherwise little looks to change. Unfortunately history indicates that international bodies and states, will not act effectively and efficiently on behalf of the children of Zimbabwe, and Mugabe’s tight hold over the desperate nation is still strong.

Links:
This is Zimbabwe -blog
US State Department Report on Zimbabwe
Human Rights Watch - Zimbabwe Report
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
WHO Country Health System Fact Sheet 2006 - Zimbabwe
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Due to HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa
“The silent cries of the little ones” : Zimbabwe’s under-fives cry out for justice
AFRICA: Child Bride Symbolizes Reasons Why MDGs Will be Missed

“I cannot sleep at night now, I cannot eat, I am just afraid”
said Rania Hamed, an eight-year-old Palestinian refugee,
who fled the Nahr al Bared camp on foot with her family in May
(Fleeing Palestinian children speak of horrors).

In armed conflict, children always pay the heaviest price from the fighting, displacement, lack of infrastructure and resources.  Therefore Palestinian children seem unable to escape the violence and hardship that has plagued them their entire lives. Fighting has recently broke out in Lebanon between the army and the radical Islamic group Fatah al-Islam. The fighting has now been going on for two months, leaving a strain on resources and preventing the adequate protection of refugee children. Lack of food, safe drinking water, medicine, heath care, suitable housing, education and security, are placing children at even heavier risk. Unfortunately the fighting has made an already grave situation, even more dire, providing basic resources is difficult for aid agencies, let alone providing basic education to children. ‘Although UNRWA is required to provide Palestinian children with elementary and preparatory education, about 60 percent of the young adults have not completed basic education at least in part because of the poor learning environment in the camps (Children Still Caught in Crossfire at Refugee Camp in Lebanon)’.

According to Amnesty International Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon’s biggest problem in accessing education is that, ‘Non-ID’ refugee children have no access to formal education, and though they could can pay for private school, a cost many cannot afford, as obtaining work is also limited as refugees cannot do so legally. Even if an ‘Non-ID’ child is able to go to school, they are unable to take state exams to obtain the intermediate school certificate, therefore are unable to finish school, and even if manage to it is unrecognized.

What can be done to ensure that child refugee’s fundamental human rights are fulfilled and protected?

“Human Rights Watch believes the right to asylum is a matter of life and death and cannot be compromised. Human Rights Watch calls on the United Nations and on governments everywhere to uphold their obligations to protect refugees and to respect their rights - regardless of where they are from or where they seek refuge.”(Human Rights Watch)

Refuge rights, which are guaranteed under the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, include; protection against discrimination, freedom of religion, right to identity and travel documents, work, protection against penalties for illegal entry, right to housing, education and relief, protection against penalties for illegal entry, and freedom of movement.

Amnesty International has made a number of recommendations for the compliance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Lebanese government. Recommendations in the report included; the right to an adequate standard of living, right to education, right to be registered, right to a name, and the right to social security.

The Lebanese government, as with all governments that host refugees, should ensure that the fundamental rights of the child are met. Governments and aid agencies must work to see that the best interests of the child are met, regardless of the political or social situation. It is therefore essential that refugee children in Lebanon, both ID and ‘Non-ID’, receive a basic education, health care, nutrition and they are protected from violence to the best of the government’s ability. Therefore even in times of violence, the government and aid agencies, must ensure the adequate food and water supplies are delivered to the camps, children a permitted to receive an education, and if the situation is hazardous then children and their families must be moved to safer locations.

As an international community we must look to establish, and follow, a system to ensure the rights of refugees are safeguarded, especially that of the child’s. Children regardless or race, religion or citizenship, are our future, our leaders, and our hope for peace.

Links:
Refugees have rights - Questions & Answers
The Palestine Center -Refugee Rights
International Refugee Rights Initiative
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch
UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

Somalia - Residents of Mogadishu, who had returned after recent fighting between government forces and insurgents, find themselves leaving again, as the violence worsens. Children are the worst effected in the fighting, and suffer most in IDP camps.

Sudan - Darfur hasn’t become any safer since the signing of a peace treaty was signed a year ago this month, on the contrary it appears to be more insecure in many areas. The focus of the failure for peace and stability seems to be handed to fragmentation of rebel groups and a failure to disarm militias (Reuters). The UN and African Union met on July 15th -16th in Libya, to establish a peace plan for the region. The meeting came just days after a UN warning that the violence had continued to displaced another 160,000 people since the beginning of 2007, increased the total numbers of displaced persons to around 4.2 million. According to OCHA (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), “Attacks against the relief community have increased 150 percent in the past year. In June, one out of every six convoys that left provincial capitals in Darfur was hijacked or ambushed.” (IRIN). The outcome from the talks, thus far have only led from the UN encouraging some prominent rebel leaders to put down their arms, and join the peace talks. The majority of Sudan’s refugee’s and IDPs are woman and children, and with weakened food shortages, the situation remains grave.

South Africa - The use of mass male circumcision is the newest debate in the fight against the ever mounting spread of HIV/AIDS. At the Cutting edge - male circumcision and HIV

Cote D’Ivoire - Peace brings with it mixed feelings for some in the country as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) leaves the country in the wake of peace. Peace now means that people, most who have now come to rely on MSF for free and adequate medical attenion will be forced to pay for health care fees, a price most cannot afford. The largest concern in the rising cost of health care is that children will suffer most, and their quality of life and health will begin to diminish.

Tanzania - The government has pledged that in the next school year it will hire more teachers in an effort to improve the quality of education for the countries children. The effort is a great step forward as the number of children enrolled in primary schools has dramatically increased. Unfortunately the battle to keep girls in school is far from over, as the pregnancy rate has also risen, causing increased dropouts (IRIN)

Pastorial Child in Tanzania (Photo by VetAid)

Pastoralism is a form of farming, or ranching, where one raises and tends to herd animals, including camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas and sheep. Pastoralism, especially in Africa is very nomadic, as one needs to move their herds in search of grazing land and water. Pastoralist, such as the Maasai, an indigenous African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania, have been roaming Africa for more than ten thousand years. While pastoralism has been an effective way to use marginalized land, which would be implausible for farming use, urban migration, increasing environmental issues, armed conflict, and poverty have been severely hindering this ancient way of life.

“The most marginalized people, pastoralist and to a lesser extent, agro-pastoralist communities, have become locked into a cycle of poverty and debt. Every day is a struggle for survival; so people here are extremely vulnerable to any change in their economic or physical environment,” Oxfam says. (Reuters)

“Pastoralism needs to be recognized as a way of life that is viable and contributes to the economy. Our livestock is our way of life but we need access to an organized market so we can be sustainable,” said Borena elder Nura Dida of Ethiopia in 2006. (UN)

Pastoralists’ number in the millions, accounting for a substantial part of many African nations. Across Africa pastoralists’ account for the use of approximately 40% of the land. Children in pastorial communities, play a vital role in the daily life of the family and community. Children as young as 8 assist in household chores, fetching water, and herding animals, therefore it is vital, that not only is their cultural way of life preserved, but that their rights are ensured and protected.

Earlier this month a three day workshop on pastoralist policy was conducted in Kenya by the African Union’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, the AU’s Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (IBAR), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs-Pastoralist Communication Initiative (OCHA-PCI). For those attending it was clear that education tops pastoralists’ concerns , as it was stated that it was key understand pastoralism, and it was key that the educational curriculum was correctly established to suit that pastoralist lifestyle.

Ali Wario, Kenya’s assistant minister for special programs in the office of the president, said “children in Kenya’s pastoralist areas not only lacked access to education but, when available, the curriculum often did not suit pastoral lifestyles. “We must have mobile schools in pastoralist areas if children are to gain from the education system.”

Children in pastorial communities often do not receive adequate education, and while a child’s educational needs must all the children regardless of where they grow up or what type of community they live. Children have a right to receive a basic education, and this must be ensured jointly by the families, community and the government. “Alternative Basic Education is enabling the emergence of a new generation of educated pastoralists in Ethiopia,” “If we are to succeed in providing primary education to all Ethiopian children, including all girls, then the systems we provide must be able to accommodate the lifestyles of the hardest to reach children.” said UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia (Alternative Basic Education keeps pastoral children’s dreams alive).

Following the conference on pastoralist policy, the debate continues, Can pastoralism survive in the 21st century? The reaction is mixed, some claim that it will survive as the need for products derived from livestock will increase with urbanization, while others argue that desertification and globalization will put an end to the pastorial way of life. Millions of pastoralists live across the wide expanses of the African continent, and according to statistical data from 2005 of the ‘314 million poor people…in Africa, half were highly dependent upon livestock for their livelihoods, 80 percent of whom were in pastoral areas’ (IRIN).

Governments in Africa need to work to support, encourage and preserve the pastoral way of life, while also looking to correct misconceptions about the pastorial way of life. Most importantly the needs of pastoral food security need to be addressed, including, providing training in new techniques and alternative sources of income, education and ensuring that pastorialist’s benefit from the free trade of their goods. If a unified Pastoral policy can be archived by the governments of Africa, than the future of pastoral children will look better, however with increasing droughts, armed conflict, and food crisis’s plaguing much of Africa, pastoralist look to continue down the road of marginalization. According to the UN, “We must look beyond the immediate emergency response and into medium- and long-term solutions. The ad-hoc response of the past is not enough,” Ahunna Eziakonwa, chief of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) African section stated. (UN demands welfare of African pastoralists)

“We want peace to be a reality in Sudan. Often, conflict in most parts of the country boils down to conflict between pastoralists and agriculturalists; if peace were achieved, pastoralists would not be as marginalized as they are now.” - Sudanese pastoralist (IRIN)

One can only hope that a clear and sustainable pastoral policy is established and that the millions of pastoral children, and future children, will endure less poverty and marginalization.

Links:
VetAid
Farm Africa
Pastoral Civil Society Newsletter
CSIRO Center for Arid Zone Research
Save the Children
UNICEF

10 month old-child, suffering from malnutrition in 2005 food crisis in Niger
Radhika Chalasani/Unicef via Getty Images

Crisis looms for many African nations, as increasing food shortages seem inevitable. Africa’s poorest will again pay for the failure to eliminate the crisis at its very core, as a new report, Beyond any Drought, warns of future food crises in Africa’s poorest nations. The report was issued by the Sahel Working Group, which is composed of aid organizations, and the International Institute for Environment and Development, addresses that the root causes and issues are not being addressed, and that if they are continued to be dismissed the food crisis’s will not only continue, but worsen.

“People blame locusts, drought and high food prices for the crisis that affected more than 3 million people in Niger in 2005,” says Vanessa Rubin, Africa Hunger Advisor for CARE International UK, and author of a briefing paper that accompanies the report. “But these were just triggers. The real cause of the problem was that people there are chronically vulnerable. Two years later, they still are.”(IIED)

A food crisis is unfortunately not a new concept in the Sahel region of Africa, nor is the delayed reaction by the international community to interview before a crisis is allowed to develop. Children in the nomadic communities are effected the most as food and water sources are also in crisis for the animals, which are the communities only supply of food and income. Many of the problems stem from the marginalization of woman and the weakening traditional nomadic system, which are not always addressed, or supported, by aid organizations or governments.

With a food crisis, children are the hardest hit, including malnutrition, disease and often death. A food shortage or famine, most often occurs from internal conflict or natural disasters.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fewsnet) had said the food security outlook for 2007 in the Sahel region in 2007 was good, and that they foresaw the harvests production rates to be average or higher. “Nevertheless, areas of Niger and eastern Chad and southern Chad still face localized food insecurity, it said. In addition, while persistently high rates of acute malnutrition - rooted in poor care practices, poor water and sanitation, a lack of dietary diversity and inadequate healthcare - are likely to improve in the post-harvest period, high rates will reemerge later in 2007.” (Reuters)

The African nations that will be hit the hardest by the pending food crisis, are Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all of which where effected by the sever food crisis in 2005.

In Burkina Faso it is estimated that some areas are experiencing acute malnutrition, emaciation, for close to 23% of children under five. The World Health Organization states the 10% acute malnutrition is a “serious nutrition situation”. Additionally the countries Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, said: “There is neither a food crisis nor a nutritional crisis in Burkina Faso.” He did agree there is a “problem”, but said it is not the Ministry of Health’s responsibility to respond to it. (Government could do more to tackle malnutrition, say aid workers)

Niger faced a food crisis in 2005, that effected over 3.3 million people, an estimated 800,000 of which where children, now some warn that the 2007 crisis will be even worse.  The crisis in in 2005 was heightened by the slow response of the international community. Then UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan attempted to draw attention to the situation in the months following, however donors for the appeal fail incredibly short, Nigeria was the worst effected country of the 2005 West African Food Crisis.

Mali’s situation almost mirrors that of neighboring Niger, as drought and swarms of locust have seriously depleted food supplies. The country, as Niger, relies mostly on cereal crops for food sources, and the countries live stock is also suffering malnutrition and death, thus continuing to increase its effect on more than 1.5 million people.

Chad, which is primarily effected by food crisis in the eastern region of the country, has been greatly effected by the armed conflict, and a lack of security. Issues of food insecurity is also present in some areas which are untouched by the conflict, factors such as flooding have caused loss of crops.

A food crisis means more than just potential malnutrition, starvation and death, a food crisis can also increase disease and enhance illness for those already suffering, including those with HIV/AIDS. A food crisis can spin off into other economic and social crisis’s or collapse, including; lowering GDP, increasing the number of orphans, raising the level of unemployment, strain health care systems, and intensify civil or political unrest.

Other African nations currently experiencing drought and food crisis issues:

Earlier this year, in February, floods swept across the region, threatening the already precarious existence of tens of thousands of people in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Drought has recently swept across southern Africa, causing the devastation of crops, the World Food Program (WFP) has warned that “almost five million people will face food shortages by the first quarter of 2008: 4 million in Zimbabwe, where economic crisis is exacerbating the situation, and 400,000 each in Lesotho and Swaziland.”Lesotho is now coming off the severest drought in 30 years, and has now declared a state of emergency and is appealing for international assistance. There is currently over 400,000 people in need of urgent food aid, and according to reports from World Food Program (WFP) reports, that the maize harvest, the counties main source of food, is now more than 40% lower. (IRIN)

Somalia’s sever drought, felt hardest in the northeastern self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, has caused water and food shortages. The drought has caused many families to leave in search of food and water, as both fishing and livestock, the areas main source of nourishment and income, are no longer available. The local administration has appealed to the international community for intervention, before the situation worsens. (IRIN)

Ethiopia is probably the most well known country in westerners eyes for famine, as the country has been struggling heavily since the early 1970s, when the countries population doubled, creating over farming of already stressed lands. Sporadic rains, drought and deforestation continue to compile the countries food shortages.

South Sudan’s current food insecurity has currently been effecting an estimated 1,000,000 people, which looks to rise to 1 million, and if the condition worsens could near double. (June to August 2007 Food Security Outlook)


Over 200 million people in Africa are going hungry, the children suffering the most, as it is estimated that over 1/3 of children’s growth has been stunted due to poverty. Each year over 28%, around 3 million, of African deaths are hunger related, and the number of malnourished children are continuing to increasing(African Hunger). No where else in the world is the issue of poverty at such a level as that of Africa, and only in Africa is the rate of child malnutrition on the rise. Unfortunately food and monetary aid are not enough to curb the effects of the food crisis on its own, the support of the national and local governments are also needed. As it stands the cycle of poverty continues and as an international community we must look at the root causes of poverty must be tackled in order to end the vicious cycle of hunger that continues to plague Africa’s children. Armed conflict, climate change, urbanization, HIV/AIDS, drought, floods, increasing cost of grains, etc., are all contributers to the food crisis’s covering Africa, and if we do not look to these issues, the children of Africa will never be able to live a life with out fear of starvation and disease.

“History will repeat itself unless governments in the Sahel and donor agencies adopt an entirely new strategy for the region,” says Camilla Toulmin, director of IIED. “This needs to build on the knowledge, skills and priorities of local people, strengthening local rights to land, soils and water, and giving people a voice in how decisions are made. Building local resilience is key to reducing vulnerability.”

Some of the Organizations Working on the Current Crisis:
Oxfam
Care
Trocaire
Concern
Red Cross

Links:
The State Food Insecurity in the World
FEWS Nigeria Food Security Update Jan 2007 - Bumper harvest leaves markets supplied, prices low
The food situation in the Sahel: Is a second consecutive food crisis in Niger likely? What is the situation for the other Sahelian and West African countries?
The Food Crisis: Governing Principles for the Regional Food Security Surveillance System in the Sahel
International Food Policy Research Institute
International Institute for Environment and Development

Burma (Myanmar) - UNICEF has begun distributing emergency supplies such as medicines, clothing, cooking utensils and water purification tablets in Myanmar in the wake of flooding that has struck the country. Media reports say thousands of people have been left homeless by the floods, which come two weeks after the start of the annual monsoon season. Schools have had to close, rail services have been suspended in some areas and bridges have also been washed out. The worst affected areas are on and inland from the western, central and southern coasts. (UN News)

Nepal -Regardless of the end of a decade-long conflict in November 2006, between Maoist guerrillas and the government, a the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is still very substantial. An estimate just below the original IDPs of 200,000, are still unable to return home, and continue to live in extreme poverty in urban centers. That number of displaced families has only decreased slightly due to the fact that former Maoist rebels continue to control the villages. The majority of IDPs are children and they continue suffer the most, according to the NRC in Nepal. (IRIN)

Philippines - Efforts are being made to slow rapidly-growing birth rate, looks to fail unless the central government avoids religious pressures, and looks to provide funding for condoms and birth control pills. With a population of about 89 million, the predominantly Catholic country has one of the fastest-growing populations in Asia, with around 2 million babies born every year. Even if the population growth rate can be lowered to 1% from 2.34% (2000 census), it iss estimated that an increase in population will jump close to 142 million by 2040. (Reuters)

Sri Lanka - On July 11, Sri Lankan troops drove Tamil Tiger fighters from their last stronghold in the island’s, according to the military said, however rebels vowed to continue with their guerrilla war. The military captured the area called Thoppigala, a significant stride as it has been in the Tamil Tiger hands since the mid-1990s.  This is one of many territorial gains this year for the Sir Lankan government, however the Tamil Tigers de facto state in the north remains still intact. (Reuters)

Iraq - 185 displaced families need to be relocated urgently, as they have been stranded in the harsh conditions at a desert camp in southern Iraq, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS) says. “Three infants aged 1-3 have died due to soaring temperatures in the al-Manathira internally displaced persons (IDP) camp where about 1,100 individuals, are living in just 200 tents,” said IRCS branch head Dhia Zuwaini. The families were part of an estimated 5,500 displaced families in the Najaf area, about 200 kilometers south of Baghdad. (IRIN)

Afghanistan - Recent flooding has contaminated drinking water in many parts of the country, and appears to be the cause of the reported increase in diarrhea cases countrywide. Over 10,000 people with acute diarrhea, mostly children, have sought treatment at hospitals in four Afghan provinces, including Kabul, in just three weeks. At least 20 deaths have been reported in several districts in just five weeks, provincial health workers said. (IRIN)