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12 Most Neglected Humanitarian Crises In Africa

12 Most Neglected Humanitarian Crises In Africa

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Africa is faced with several humanitarian crises as millions of people on the continent continue to fall victim to disasters, mostly caused by human actions and some by natural phenomenon.

The continent has high percentages of people displaced from their homes due to civil strives and conflicts, sectarian and politically -instigated violence, droughts and floods.

Below are some of the 12 most neglected humanitarian crises on the continent.

Sources; World Economic Forum, International Rescue Committee, MercyCorps, BBC, The Guardian, The Intercept, Global Security.org, Global Conflict Tracker, United Nations, IRIN

Darfuri women in Chad. Photo: Kirsten Johnson/PHR/darfurvisible.org
Darfuri women in Chad. Photo: Kirsten Johnson/PHR/darfurvisible.org

Darfur

In 2003, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) backed by the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) started fighting the Government of Sudan in the western region of Darfur. They accused it of oppressing the non-Arabs. The Sudan military supported by Janjaweed Militia (Devils on Horsebacks) responded by carrying out ethnic-cleansing of non-Arabs and burning hundreds of villages. Other crimes of war like rape and forcible displacement have also been carried out. According to the United Nations, more than 300,000 people have been killed, more than 2.7 displaced internally and about 250, 000 others have fled to neighboring Chad.

Rain South Sudan Refugees

South Sudan

Africa’s newest state became independent in July 2011 but disintegrated into civil war in December 2013. The war broke out after President Salva Kiir, fired his Deputy Riek Machar, accusing him of an attempted coup. The war took and ethnic angle, pitting Machar’s tribe, Nuer and Kiir’s Dinka. Over 50,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the war pitting Machar’s rebel forces and the government forces, while another 700,000 people fled to neighboring Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. At least 1.6 million others were internally displaced. There has been systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, use of child soldiers, burning of villages and cannibalism. Health institutions and facilities and schools have been run down due to the war. In December 2015, World Health Organization described the South Sudan as one of the worlds’ worst health emergencies. The nation’s bid for peace received a major boost when Machar was sworn in as the Vice-President after returning to the country in April, 2016.

African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) troops, a peace keeping mission. Photo: horseedmedia.net
African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) troops, a peace keeping mission. Photo: horseedmedia.net

Somalia

The Horn of Africa nation has endured a civil war, led by ethnic warlords and later terrorist, since President Siad Barre’s government was over thrown in 1991. At least 3000 African Union soldiers have been killed by Al-Shaba militants. More than 500,000 people have been killed in the continued war, since 1991. The war has displaced at least one million people, majority of them feeling to neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya. There has been use of child soldiers in the Somali Armed Forces and the terror group, Al-Shabab.

Thinkstock
Thinkstock

Central African Republic

Armed conflict broke out in the oil and uranium-rich nation in December 2012. Seleka militants mainly drawn from Muslims overthrew former President Francois Bozize’s government. The rebels went on a killing spree of the Christian population. In retaliation, Christians formed anti-Balaka forces to fight the Seleka militia. It fast degenerated into a deadly sectarian crisis. There have been arbitrary murders, sexual violence and burning of villages and mosques on the basis on Christian and Muslim lines. More than 6,300 people have been killed and at least 360, 000 others internally displaced by the sectarian war. About 2.7 million people are in dire need in the country of about 4.5 million people.

commons.wikimedia.org
commons.wikimedia.org

Ethiopia

This is one of the fastest growing African economies at the rate of about 10 percent in 2016. Ethiopia is facing its worst drought in 50 years, and more than 10 million people are facing starvation. More than 400,000 of them are set to suffer from severe malnutrition. Non-governmental organizations warned that if drastic measures are not taken, the number of people in need of emergency food aid could reach 20 million by end of June.The government launched an international appeal for $1.4 billion to help counter the crisis.

orijinculture.com
orijinculture.com

Democratic Republic of Congo

The mineral-rich nation has endured years of civil war, mainly for political power and control of the nation’s vast mineral resources. There have been rebel groups fighting against the government such as M-23 rebels, Mai Mai militia. Over 6 million have died due to starvation, malnutrition and collapse of institutions that have been run down by years of fighting. Monthly deaths have been estimated between 30,000-45,000 people. At least 1.7 million people have been internally displaced, while scores of others have fled to neighboring Rwanda and Uganda. Different rebel factions have enjoyed support from neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, thus escalating the crisis and stifling efforts to restore peace. There have been widespread famine and disease outbreaks, sexual violence against both men and women, use of child soldiers and forced labor of children in minefields.

Boko Haram (photo by AK Rockefeller)
Boko Haram (photo by AK Rockefeller)

North Eastern Nigeria

Terrorist group, Boko Haram has unleashed violence in the region since 2009. It is affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a terrorist organization in Iraq. More than 20,000 people have been killed, 2.2 million left internally displaced, at least 170,000 others have fled to neighboring Chad, Cameroun and Niger. More than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted too, including the 276 girls, popularly called ‘Chibok Girls’ kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in Chibok town. More than 3.8 million have been hit by the violence, and many have been recruited into Boko Haram as suicide bombers, girls forcibly married and trafficked. At least 2.5 million are faced with malnourished and 3.9 million others are in dire need of food aid.

Chadian Army (Image: ibtimes.com)
Chadian Army (Image: ibtimes.com)

Lake Chad Basin

This is a region which includes parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun and Chad. It has endured high-levels of poverty, adverse climate change and weak governance. At least 2.3 million people in the region have been displaced due to violence by the Boko Haram terrorist group. The people have been hit by a severe drought. At least 3 million are faced with starvation and more than 300,000 children are faced with severe malnutrition. The humanitarian crisis in the region has left people in dire need of food, water, shelter and other humanitarian assistance.

LRA.Kony
LRA leader Joseph Kony

Northern Uganda

The region has experienced decades of violence from the Lord’s Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony. He has never been captured and his militia has continued to wreak havoc in the region, with hideouts in parts of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Since 2006, the war significantly reduced but the scars are still felt in the region. The group has traversed and committed murder, rape, abductions and looting in neighboring DRC, Central African Republic and South Sudan. More than 1.8 million were displaced, tens of thousands of others brutally mutilated, killed and kidnapped. Women and children were abducted and used as sex slaves and fighters by the rebel group.

christiantoday.com
christiantoday.com

Burundi

The tiny Central-African nation was plunged into armed violence after incumbent president, Pierre Nkurunziza controversially chose to run for a third term in office. The violence has left at 400 people dead and forced more than 240,000 to flee to neighboring Rwanda and Tanzania. There was an attempted coup on May 15 2016 when Nkurunziza was out of the country. Protesters have been killed and others arbitrary arrested.  Religious leaders, students, opposition and rebels have all opposed Nkurunziza’s decision and subsequent re-election. Peace has remained elusive. There have been fierce clashes between government forces and rebels in the Northern Province of Kayanza.

285001-sustainable-agriculture-in-malawi

Malawi

The Southern Africa nation is facing the worst food crisis in a decade. In early 2015, heavy flooding washed away food stocks and destroyed fertile land. This was followed by a severe drought. More than 2.8 million people are facing starvation. About 1.5 million are children. The nation needs $38 million to help address the crisis.

Child Labor
(Image: BBC/Youtube)

Child Labor

Africa has the highest number of child labor. About 59 million are providing labor against their will in mines, farms and other sectors of informal economy. Ethiopia is a leading nation with about 5.5 million children undergoing exploitation in hard labor.