Impending Catastrophe

In the Western world we are often bombarded by the media and politicians on potential sources of catastrophe, from Y2K to nuclear threats we are worked into a frenzy, a paranoid state of mind. These catastrophes rarely come to fruition but there are very real disasters going largely unnoticed, one of which is now about to reach its climax in Burundi (a nation in central Africa), in the form of starvation.

Burundi is just now attempting to stand on its own two feet after 12 years of civil war that robbed 300,000 innocent civilians of their lives, decimated agricultural production and destroyed hopes of economic success. The fighting between the Tutsi and the Hutu (the majority in population, but oppressed by the Tutsi controlled government) was bloody and grim, evoking memories of Rwanda and comparisons to atrocities in Sudan.

South Africa mediated talks between the rebel groups and the government that, in 2001, resulted in a ceasefire (most, but not all rebel groups, agreed; the final rebel group agreed to a ceasefire in 2006). Since, a powersharing government has been formed, parliamentary elections held and a president has been elected. Relative peace and political freedom has settled over this war-torn nation in the past couple of years, but economic prosperity has not.

Burundi's economy is based upon agriculture, with coffee and tea being major products. Recent floods in central Africa have devastated crop production, including that of Burundi. It seems impossible that a lush, forested region would be a victim of starvation, as oppose to innumerable dry, desert-covered areas throughout the world, but flooding has the same effect as drought; crops are destroyed, thereby leaving families without any source of nourishment. Burundi, half of whose population already resides below the poverty line, is on the very edge of major population decimation. Recognizing this, the government of Burundi has declared a state of emergency in half its provinces and the UN and other NGOs have requested, but not yet received, over $130 million to aid Burundi.

The individual tragedies will be all too easy to spot; the starving children, the sick mothers, the bodies slowly grinded into submission. The overall numbers will be just as tragic; estimates by the UN World Food Program say 2 million of Burundi's 7 million people will be at risk. Outbreaks of disease due to malnourishment (and the weakening of the immune system that malnourishment brings with it), will also likely occur, a prospect that is terrifying in a nation ill-equipped with medical expertise and resources.

The impending devastation is disturbing enough, but the lack of attention it has received in the media, mainstream or otherwise, is also troubling; here we have a crisis threatening the lives of 2 million people and yet one must be lucky or go out of their way to hear a word about it. This lack of media coverage often lures us into the mentality that someone is taking care of the problem or that there is no problem; we must fully realize one essential fact - this crisis is very, very real.

There are many ways in which one can help. Simply spreading awareness is one way. Donations to the World Food Program and other AID agencies are a great way to help; visit the World Food Program website (www.wfp.org, click "How to Help" and then "Donate") or search for ways in which to help Africa online and you will easily find ways to donate and help.