Question

COVI-19 is anticipated to affect global food and trade. Using illustrations from two countries within the West Africa sub-region, examine how COVID-19 can exacerbate food insecurity in these countries; and suggest measures to mitigate any food crisis.

Answer 1

The global community is racing to slow down and eventually halt the spread of COVID-19, a pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives and sickened tens of thousands of others. In Africa, the virus has spread to dozens of countries within weeks. Governments and health authorities across the continent are striving to limit widespread infections.

Since the start of the outbreak the World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting African governments with early detection by providing thousands of COVID-19 testing kits to countries, training dozens of health workers and strengthening surveillance in communities. 44 countries in the WHO African region can now test for COVID-19. At the start of the outbreak only two could do so.

WHO has issued guidance to countries, which is regularly updated to take into account the evolving situation. The guidelines include measures such as quarantine, repatriations of citizens and preparedness at workplaces. The Organization is also working with a network of experts to coordinate regional surveillance efforts, epidemiology, modelling, diagnostics, clinical care and treatment, and other ways to identify, manage the disease and limit widespread transmission.

WHO is providing remote support to affected countries on the use of electronic data tools, so national health authorities can better understand the outbreak in their countries. Preparedness and response to previous epidemics is providing a firm foundation for many African countries to tackle the spread of COVID-19.

Importantly, basic preventative measures by individuals and communities remain the most powerful tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19. WHO is helping local authorities craft radio messaging and TV spots to inform the public about the risks of COVID-19 and what measures should be taken. The Organization is also helping to counter disinformation and is guiding countries on setting up call centres to ensure the public is informed.

Few regions in the world have been as unfortunate as Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.The delta’s abundant natural wealth stands in stark contrast to its palpable under-development. The oil sector accounts for approximately 95 percent of Nigeria’s exportearnings and over 80 percent of federal government revenue, but for nearly two decadesthe delta has been mired in conflict and violence that threatens human security andthe national economy. Following the Amnesty offered by former President Yar’Adua in2009 to over 20,000 armed fighters, an uneasy quiet has settled over the area. Yet, thefundamental conditions of extreme deprivation have remained unchanged. The devel-opmental challenges facing the Niger Delta are stil shaped by its turbulent history andare closely intertwined with recurrent patterns of instability. With little provocation,longstanding grievances could once again erupt into another cycle of violence.This study is based on the exceptionally rich literature available on authors’ personal engagement with the region. Its goal is to enhance understanding ofthe factors that have contributed to violent conflict in the Niger Delta, so that develop-ment partners and government can form the most appropriate strategies for programsof intervention in this large and deeply deprived area rich in oil and gas. The mainobjectives are to: (i) advance understanding of the unique social characteristics of theNiger Delta and their influence on local conflict.

Three months into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the WHO African Region (when Algeria confirmed the first case on 25 February 2020), all Member States have been affected, with Lesotho being the last to report a confirmed case on 13 May 2020. The COVID-19 incidence cases and associated deaths continue to rise, albeit with differential trends among countries. The region has been recording a daily case-count of more than 2 000 in the past three weeks. Since our last situation report on 20 May 2020 an additional 19 735 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (a 31% increase) were reported from 43 countries. During this period, seven countries in the WHO African region observed the highest percentage increase in cases: South Sudan 186% (from 282 to 806 cases), Comoros 156% (from 34 to 87 cases), Mauritania 100% (from 131 to 262 cases), Ethiopia 92% (from 365 to 701 cases), Madagascar 80% (from 326 to 586 cases), Sao Tome and Principe 76% (from 251 to 441 cases), Central African Republic 59% (from 411 to 652 cases) and Cameroon 54% (from 3 529 to 5 436 cases). In the same reporting week, Namibia (4) and Mauritius (2) reported imported confirmed cases after 45 and 28 days of zero reporting, respectively. The reported cases were undergoing quarantine and had previously travelled from affected countries. Samples were collected in preparation for their discharge and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on 21 and 24 May 2020, respectively. Seychelles and Eritrea have independently reported zero new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 49 and 37 days, respectively. Although Burundi and United Republic of Tanzania have had no new confirmed cases in our database in the last 18 and 10 days, respectively, there are no official reports indicating zero confirmed cases. From 20 to 26 May 2020, 460 new deaths (25% increase) were reported from 30 countries: South Africa (212), Algeria (57), Nigeria (56), Cameroon (37), Mali (17), Sierra Leone (11), Niger (8), Democratic Republic of the Congo (7), Senegal (7), Chad (6), Mauritania (5), Equatorial Guinea (5), South Sudan (4), Congo (4), Sao Tome and Principe (3), Liberia (3), Gabon (2), Kenya (2), Guinea (2), Côte d'Ivoire (2), Central African Republic (1), Ethiopia (1), Mozambique (1), Malawi (1), Angola (1), Benin (1), Cabo Verde (1), Togo (1), Ghana (1) and Burkina Faso (1). Central African Republic and Mozambique recorded their first death during the reporting week. The region has registered 9 713 new recoveries in this reporting period.

From 20 to 26 May 2020, 460 new deaths (25% increase) were reported from 30 countries: South Africa (212), Algeria (57), Nigeria (56), Cameroon (37), Mali (17), Sierra Leone (11), Niger (8), Democratic Republic of the Congo (7), Senegal (7), Chad (6), Mauritania (5), Equatorial Guinea (5), South Sudan (4), Congo (4), Sao Tome and Principe (3), Liberia (3), Gabon (2), Kenya (2), Guinea (2), Côte d'Ivoire (2), Central African Republic (1), Ethiopia (1), Mozambique (1), Malawi (1), Angola (1), Benin (1), Cabo Verde (1), Togo (1), Ghana (1) and Burkina Faso (1). Central African Republic and Mozambique recorded their first death during the reporting week. The region has registered 9 713 new recoveries in this reporting period. As of 26 May 2020, a cumulative total of 83 913 COVID-19 cases, including 83 722 confirmed and 191 probable cases have been reported across the 47 countries in the region. The probable cases have been reported in Sao Tome and Principe (146), Comoros (44) and Democratic Republic of the Congo (1). The 210 probable cases earlier reported from Benin were retested by polymerase chain reaction and all were negative for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 2 278 deaths have been reported, giving an overall case fatality ratio (CFR) of 2.7%. Six countries have not registered any COVID-19 related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in the region: Eritrea, Seychelles, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda.

The west African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are battling the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic from a position of mass poverty, economic fragility and weak healthcare systems.

After all, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the trio as it was still recovering from the devastating Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016 that killed over 11,000 people, including health workers. Collapsed economies and weakened health systems are posing a massive challenge in their fight against the virus (SARS-CoV-2).

Ebola, which originated in the forested region of Guinea in Meliandou, was eventually contained owing to a coordinated global effort and pool of international financial resources and experts. But with the global community shaken by COVID-19, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone seem to be facing a particularly harrowing time receiving financial aid.

There have been, however, a few donations of personal protective equipment from institutions, including the Chinese billionaire Jack Ma and the sub-regional grouping, the Economic Community of West African States. But they can be described, at best, as a drop in the ocean.

For instance, Liberia needs $45 million to fund its response activities against the pandemic, according to Mosoka Fallah, head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia.

The country’s budget for health for the fiscal year 2019-2020 was set at 14.1 per cent of the total budget. This allocation falls slightly below 15 per cent — the amount African countries pledged to spend a year from their national budget on healthcare under the nearly two-decade-old Abuja Declaration.

Sierra Leone and Guinea allocated 10 per cent each of their budgets to health.