Saul,
I concur with your view relating to the role of South Africa in the relief
effort in Mozambique. SA has taken its moral responsibility as a good
neighbour conscientiously to the extent of being critiqued by its own
citizens of neglect. Remember, they are affected as well by the devastating
floods albeit to a lesser scale. I join those who salute SA for their
selfless efforts. Malawi, Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius to name but a few
African countries that have thus far contributed to the relief effort
should be commended as well.
Humanitarian assistance is highly specialised and requires delivery
mechanism different from the traditional development assistance mode.
Agencies such as the UN (Humanitarian Affairs) national agencies in the
west (Disaster Preparedness Agency in the US, for instance) and NGOs that
specialise in this type of assistance are better equipped to handled
disasters of the magnitude seen in Mozambique. The OAU is not equipped to
handle such operations. Perhaps it is about time, as Basil suggested,
establishing a disaster management capability at the continental level but
only, in my view, in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Affairs agency.
In fact, given the huge logistical challenges pose by a continent-wide
structure, I would argue for a regional approach as the most effective and
efficient.
Meanwhile, as we watch the human drama and suffering unfold in Mozambique,
I am afraid to say that the worst is yet to come for both Mozambique and
the rest of Africa unless urgent action is taken to mitigate the
environmental devastation that we have been partly responsible for as
Africans. Practically, the entire west coast is an environmental disaster
area. Deforestation, coastal erosion, inappropriate land use and a host of
other forms of environmental degradation must be checked appropriate
policies put in place and vigorously enforced. Unless we address these
environmental concerns urgently, we will not be spared of similar
calamities.
It is our responsibility to take the lead.
sidi sanneh
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