Tags: burkina faso africa burkina independence holiday upper volta west africa

Posted by Keith at 08:27 AM

April 09, 2007

The Times has more on the iniquities of US cotton subsidies and their impact on the poor of Burkina Faso:

Burkina Faso's cotton market has been brought to its knees by “the monster with three heads”: a weak dollar, low world prices and US cotton subsidies. The Times makes the following points:

• America’s 25,000 cotton farmers receive about $4bn in subsidies, allowing them to undercut their developing competitors.
• The same year, farmers in Burkina Faso produced a bumper crop of cotton more efficiently, and yet made a loss of $81 million
• The US subsidies were ruled illegal by the World Trade Organisation three years ago, yet only 10 per cent have been dropped so far.
• Washington still pays many times more in subsidies to these farmers than it gives in aid to Africa each year.
• As a result, world cotton prices are now at the lowest since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
• Burkina Faso depends on cotton for 70 per cent of its cash exports, and income for a quarter of its 13 million people.

The Bush Administration has said it will consider increasing aid to boost African farmers’ productivity, but that has been dismissed by developing nations, which would rather have a “fair playing field”.

One Burkinabe cotton farmer, Mr Outtara, is in despair, saying: “Cotton production is meant to be a way out of poverty, not a means of keeping us there.”

François Traoré, president of the Association of African Cotton Producers, says “Families who don’t even know where America is are being punished by their policies. We are not their enemies. Why are they destroying us with their riches? One day, when we face the same God, how will they explain themselves?”

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina cotton subsidies farm bill justice sahel poverty

Posted by Keith at 09:41 AM

April 02, 2007

News from Burkina Faso: March

• 800 die from meningitis
• Ezra wins Film Prize at FESPACO
• Stallions in African Nations Cup qualifiers
• Continued frustration at US cotton subsidies
• Economy and corruption improve
• Monsanto say Burkina Farmers want GM crops
• Burkina President oversees peace talks
• Calls for an end to EPAs
• World Bank $74m credit for rural development
• Women making a difference
• Workers get pay rise

Continue reading "Burkina Faso News"

Posted by Keith at 07:27 AM

December 21, 2006

In Ouagadougou yesterday, there was a conflict between the police and the army, which led to several policemen killed. Apparently shooting was heard throughout the day and into the night.

Today seems calmer. Here in Gorom all is quiet and there is no sign of the problems, which is an encouraging sign that the problems seem unlikely to spread.

The Mossi say that when the elephant and the lion fight, the other animals in the jungle run for cover. Please pray for calm to be fully restored quickly and for security and peace for the Burkina population.

Posted by Keith at 07:28 PM

December 08, 2006

Flood Response - Phase 2
We are now starting Phase 2 of our response to the flood that destroyed half the houses in Gorom-Gorom. Phase 1 was emergency relief for those affected. Phase 2 is helping people rebuild their homes. I will write more about this shortly – we appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

Deou
I have just come back from 3 days in Deou, visiting the pastor and his family there. They are a lovely family, and very committed to serving God in an isolated and difficult place. I hope to be able to find ways to encourage them and further equip them in their ministry there.

Deou is an interesting place, a small Islamic market town with Mossi and Fulani, surrounded by rocky outcrops sitting on an otherwise flat plain. The pastor was telling me about the hyena that lives in one of those outcrops and comes and seizes his goats from time to time.

The name Deou sounds like the Fulani word for “up high” (“dow”), which can also mean “up in heaven”. This once led, in my early days learning Fulfulde, to an embarrassing discussion when one of my staunchly Muslim friends was trying to convince me that Jesus is alive up in heaven, and I was confusedly denying it, because I thought he was saying “Jesus lives in Deou!”

A Baobab Falls
But did anyone outside Burkina hear it? The baobab, according to lefaso.net, is Professor Joseph Ki-Zerbo, who died this week, aged 84. He was a historian and political activist who campaigned for African independance in the 1950's, and who remained active in the Burkinabe opposition until August of this year. He taught also in universities in France and Africa, and published a tome on the history of Africa. In 1997, he won the "Alternative Nobel Peace Prize".

His name might not mean much to you. But for Burkina Faso he was a part of recent history.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina deou flood hyena goats gorom-gorom ki-zerbo joseph ki-zerbo

Posted by Keith at 08:44 PM

October 14, 2006

* Football: Burkina beat Senegal. Burkina beat Senegal 1-0 in the African Nations Cup qualifier last week. Burkina have a good, but inconsistent team. In the World Cup qualifiers, they defeated South Africa, but lost to Cape Verde, to lose out on their chance for glory. Burkina is 89th in the FIFA world rankings - a full 12 places below Wales!

* Planes and Trains. Burkina is to get a new international airport 35km north-east of the capital Ouagadougou - which will probably put it near the president's home town of Ziniare. There are also plans to build new railways to Ghana and Mali, and possibly even Niger and Togo. These would open up transport in the region and reduce Burkina's dependancy on the sole line at present which runs through troubled Cote d'Ivoire.

* The Growth and Collapse of Gold Mines. Gold is the third largest export of Burkina Faso. However, most gold is hand-mined by locals (artisanal mining), who sell the gold at 5p/gram to the government. It is a dangerous and unhealthy process, which nevertheless provides much needed income for up to 200,000 Burkinabe. The dangers were highlighted by the collapse of a mine at Poura in August, killing 10 people. The government is now trying to privatise the mines, in an attempt to manage them better for the alleviation of poverty and boost employment, and Canadian and Australian companies in particular are moving into the country. Reuters reports: "This year, the government expects to receive 1.3 billion CFA (US $2.5 million) in annual taxes from mining companies, and foresees the creation of 800 new jobs every year for the next eight years. It also stipulated in its new mining code that companies must invest in community development projects, such as the building of schools, housing and wells." However, critics say that many more people will lose out by being driven from their traditional mining, and that the companies are unlikely to uphold their social responsibilities.

* French help Burkina Cotton IRIN report that France has stepped in to help boost Burkina Faso's beleaguered cotton sector with a grant of $13.4m. Cotton is Burkina's main export, and it has one of the most efficient cotton industries in the world. However, there has been loss of motivation to grown cotton, especially because of low world prices for the commodity, which have been driven down by US cotton subsidies.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gold football soccer cotton airport railway

Posted by Keith at 07:54 AM

October 13, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
  
• What Happened
  
• The Needs
  
• Response
  
• How to Help
  
• Photos
  

Update
• Stories and Pictures. Steve has some stories and photos from Gorom at his blog, including the photo above of Pastor Pascal’s church, which was destroyed by the flood.

• Blankets and mats. Thank you for your prayers for the problem with the blankets and mats. We finally managed to get 1000 blankets and 1000 mats up to Gorom, and Seydou and Daniel are getting ready to distribute these. With the cold season coming up, the blankets will be very much needed – especially as most people will not have been able to rebuild their homes before the cold starts.

• The food situation. Seydou and Daniel are saying that we should do one more food distribution, as people are still in need. In addition, although the rainy season is just about finished, and people are getting ready to harvest, the harvest looks likely to be very poor this year. We are likely therefore to need to do follow-up food aid around May/June next year.

• My travels. I am heading out to Burkina on the 20th, and will arrive in Gorom about 5 days later, so am looking forward to seeing for myself the situation on the ground.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 02:48 PM

September 06, 2006

While I was in Burkina Faso this year, I bought a copy of the national telephone directory to bring home to the UK with me. This is a photo of it - containing all the land-line telephone numbers in the whole country - lying on top of the phone book for my home town of Cardiff in Wales...

The phone book has been very useful during this time of trying to organise the relief aid for Gorom-Gorom, as I have been able to find people and organisations to call to try and get help. I usually call Burkina from my computer using Skype. Although there is a slight delay, it is an excellent way of keeping in contact. I was talking to the pastor in Gorom-Gorom a couple of days ago about Friday's food distribution, and he asked me to pass on thanks to everyone for their prayers and help. Thank you.

Broadband and Mobile Phones
Apparently a few of my friends in parts of Ouagadougou now have Broadband! (Although I'm not sure that translates into quite the same speeds as the broadband we have here...).

Mobile telephone coverage is also expanding rapidly, and I am trying to get hold of a few second-hand mobile phones as people upgrade to newer models, to give to my friends and key contacts around Gorom-Gorom. Gorom is covered by a mobile network, and being able to get hold of Seydou or one of the pastors without having to leave a message and call back several hours later will be so helpful in co-ordinating relief efforts like this.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina telephone gorom phone book communication telecommunication gorom-gorom mobiles

Posted by Keith at 09:33 AM

September 04, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help
• Photos

Update
The second food aid distribution on Friday again went very well, and we have been asked to pass on the appreciation of the people of Gorom-Gorom for the help given. This is the hungriest time of year anyway, and the losses from the flood have added to people's hardship as they were still struggling to recover from the food crisis of 2004-5. The food aid at this time is a huge help for people. Thus the team on the ground have decided to do another distribution this coming Friday.

A new and more accurate assessment has increased the figure for the number of families affected to about 800. We have found about 600 "two-place" mosquito nets, and are hoping to find more so that we will be able to give at least one net per family. Daniel, Andy, and team are meeting this afternoon together with Red Cross and local authority representatives to look at the priorities for the coming weeks.

We are still looking for plastic sheets or similar to bring up to Gorom, before people have to leave the classroooms at the start of the school year in two weeks time. It looks like we may now have someone in Ouaga to help us find these and other needs, which will be a huge help - and a relief for me, as I have been trying to track them down from here in the UK, which is not easy!

In the News
In weeks where Lebanon, Ethiopian, and other crises have been at the centre of media attention, Gorom-Gorom has not of course been in the news. I did a press release here in the UK, which got picked up by some of the local news and Christian media. Inspire magazine picked up on it, and you can read their article online.

Travels
I am off to the US tomorrow for two weeks to meet up with the World Horizons people there as well as the good people of Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, who have been supporting our work for the past few years. I think these are important meetings as I move into this new phase of life and ministry for the coming years.

But I will also need to be keeping a hand on developments in Gorom, which will be less easy while travelling. Please pray that God blesses this time and helps me accomplish all I need to do.

Many thanks

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 03:55 PM

September 01, 2006

Following the floods in Gorom-Gorom that destroyed half the town and made thousands homeless, we have begun our relief effort for the local population.
Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help
• More Photos

Update
These are photos from last Friday's food aid distribution. The top photo shows the distribution happening at one of the five selected sites, at the bus station. The bottom photo shows the grain being collected. Each family received 13kg of grain, and people came with their own bowls, sacks, buckets, or cloth to collect it.

The second distribution is happening today. Please pray for Andy, Daniel, and team as they continue to seek to respond to this situation with the love and wisdom of God.

Our previous food aid distribution was sorghum, which is eaten locally, but we are responding to requests from the local population to bring millet instead, as this is more useful to them.

Please pray for today's distribution, that it goes as well as last week's, and that this helps vulnerable people to find some stability in the crisis.

Next Steps
We are trying to find a good quantity of mosquito nets at reasonable prices to purchase in Ouagadougou and bring up. Malaria is a big problem at this time of year.

IRIN reports that, as well as mosquito nets, temporary shelter is a big need. People currently sheltering in schools will need to move out shortly to make way for the new school year. Tents are hard to find - Red Cross have only been able to provide 15 of an estimated 330 needed. We want to investigate other possibilities too.

Please pray as we try to respond to the most urgent needs, that we can identify those needs and respond appropriately.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 08:52 AM

August 28, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

Update
Our first food aid distribution was completed on Friday, and was a success, thanks to the hard work, forethought, and effectiveness of our team on the ground.

We were able to distribute 107 sacks of sorghum, giving 800 families food for a few days. The distribution was carried out in each of the five sectors of town, overseen by Daniel, Andy, Altine, and others from the church, working through representatives of the sector where the distribution was being carried out. Representatives of local authorities and the Red Cross were also present, and the whole operation has run smoothly and with good co-operation between the various groups.

We are now preparing for a second distribution this Friday, and are looking at purchasing mosquito nets as the next phase. Because of the water, there are a lot of malaria mosquitos around, and many people are suffering. We are therefore also looking at how to help people with essential medical treatment for malaria and other needs.

I want to thank Daniel, Andy and Laura, Altine, and the others of our team on the ground for the great work they are doing. Please pray for them as they continue to work at the sharp end of this work. Pray that people will retain dignity as well as being helped in their suffering. And please also pray that God will be honoured and that people will give thanks to him and recognise him as their rock and source of help.

Thank you

More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 08:07 AM

August 23, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

The pictures show Gorom-Gorom before and after the flood.

Update
Things are happening quite quickly, now thankfully. Because of the delay in being able to collect the money, our distribution has been put back to Friday. But this will work well, as we are co-ordinating with Christian Aid and others who are doing similar distributions on Monday and today, Wednesday, to ensure that everyone in need is covered.

Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.

Personal stories from Gorom-Gorom
Via Andy in Gorom:
"Everybody says thank God that this flood happened during the day. It seems like most people were able to get their family and belongings out of the houses before they fell in. But some weren't able to save anything, "not even a spoon," as my neighbor Ibrahim said. These would include people who were out of town during the catastrophe, including our Mossi neighbors, and the owner of the corner store, Adrouhaman (called "Alfa"), who lost everything in his store, including an expensive stock of cement and paint."

"Amadou the mason... worked all morning to protect his courtyard and his neighbors' by digging channels and building bulwarks of earth. In the end, the water levels raised too high... by which time he was too exhausted to get anything out of the house, even a change of clothes. He spent the following week wearing the same pair of shorts and torn shirt--here it's important to note that grown men don't wear shorts in public here, and people take pride in their clothing being clean and in good shape. His baby died two days after the flood, "still on his mother's back." He says it was malaria, but he thinks that being exposed to the cold and wet may of brought on the illness. "I don't understand why God would do this," he said."

More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 12:11 PM

August 21, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

Update
A very busy day today, and it's getting late, so I'll write more tomorrow. We have had a number of significant gifts today through my home church and through an aid agency, which I will tell you about very soon.

The guys were finally able to collect the £4000 I sent out, and the first part of this will be used for a grain distribution this coming Friday.

Please pray for good collaboration with the authorities, for the right help to reach the right people, for us to be able to steward these gifts well, and for God to touch the hearts of people.

Thank you

Photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 10:43 PM

Latest News on the Gorom-Gorom Floods.

Gold Mine Collapses: A gold mine in Poura the south of Burkina Faso has collapsed, killing at least 5 people, and trapping up to 50 others, more than 30m down. It seems that dynamite, used to break apart rock in which gold nuggets are found, was at the cause of the collapse.

Isaac Sawadogo, one of those working on the mine at the time said : "on the day of the collapse, people exploded detonators. A short time afterwards, we went down again to dig using pickaxes and chisels. Around 10 a.m., the top suddenly collapsed, causing a deafening noise. Two colleagues and I, only half-buried, were pulled out without great problem, six were found wounded and three were pulled out already dead." The rescue effort continues. It is not known how many people are still trapped but, 3 days later, not much hope is being held out for their survival. The mining has been unauthorised since the mine was officially closed down in 1999, but local people using traditional mining methods continue to search the site.

President Compaore hosts Togo talks. Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore continues to develop his role on the international stage in the region by hosting talks that led to an accord in Togo. This agreement between Togo's government and six political parties is aimed at ending years of turmoil in the country.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina mining gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom togo politics gold

Posted by Keith at 07:51 AM

August 19, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

Update
We have come up with an initial budget for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area. We estimate we need about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter (tents), and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.

Now that food distribution will be starting, we are beginning to think of shelter, other provisions, and to mosquito nets. As it is the rainy season, there are lots of malaria-carrying mosquitos breeding in the water. Malaria kills 1 million people a year, 90% of the victims being in Africa - see this series on malaria I did last year.

So mosquito nets are a major need. As Andy says:
"We sure could use them. Lots of water. Lots of mosquitos. Lots of sick, unhappy people."

The most expensive and difficult part of this is the tents. We don't know where to get hold of these, and certainly don't have the money for them. We are in discussion with several aid agencies to see whether they might be able to help us with this. Please pray for this. Thank you.

Update
* Red Cross have just announced that they are allocating $47,941 (about £25000) from the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to respond to the needs in Gorom-Gorom, "or to replenish disaster preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population." Pray still for a good link-up. I have contacted them to try and co-ordinate.

* We have been told that "plastic sheets", rather than tents may be a more readily available solution for temporary shelter, so need to look into this.

More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 05:21 PM

August 18, 2006

Background

• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

Update
The latest figures for those affected by the flood, following a more accurate census by local authorities gives the following figures for the town of Gorom-Gorom (not including villages outside the town):

• 697 households have been displaced by the flood, consisting of 5514 people
• 943 houses, 7 shops, and 20 grain stores have been destroyed by the rain

Our £4000 has not yet been collected, since the post-office at Gorom-Gorom did not have enough cash. The road from the capital is now open however, so Andy and Pastor Daniel hope to get the money on Monday morning. I spoke to the head of the post-office, and he assures me this should be possible.

Christian Aid are also starting a relief effort through their partner in Gorom-Gorom, UCEC-Sahel. Andy and Daniel will be co-ordinating with them. I am in contact with Peace Corps workers Andy and Laura's parents in the US, and we are also in touch with a number of other agencies to look at different possibilities. Andy is working on an estimate of the needs and budget for us to present an action plan to possible partners. Please pray for good communication and co-ordination between us all.

More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 03:22 PM

August 16, 2006

Background

• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

Update
Thank you to those of you who have already responded. We have just sent out £4000 ($7500) to help with food aid in the immediate aftermath of the flooding. Andy, Daniel and team are planning a food distribution on Monday. That money will help buy food for maybe 200 families for a month, or 400 families for 2 weeks.

Andy and Daniel and team are doing a great job, and we trust them to decide the best way to use the money. Food is the immediate need, as it was already the hungriest time of the year, before the floods hit, destroying the little reserve people had, and taking many away from work they could do to provide for their families.

We are trying to co-ordinate now for finding mosquito nets, tents, blankets, medicines, and clothes. We are also contacting aid agencies in the hope that they may come and help. Please pray as we seek to find the best response. Any financial help you can give us will also be well-received.

Pastor Pascal
This photo shows Pascal and his wife before the flood, with their home on the left, and their church on the right. This has now all disappeared, washed away by the rain. I spoke to Pascal yesterday - he has found somewhere to stay, and was more concerned about the people sleeping under the stars with no shelter in the middle of rainy season. He asks for your prayers for everyone.

At the same time, people still need rain - the rains started late this year, and so need to continue until the end of September for any hope of a reasonable harvest. Please pray for this, but also that everyone can find shelter quickly. Thank you.

More photos of the flood damage, taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers, can be found here

Background information on Gorom-Gorom here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 05:57 PM

August 15, 2006

Update
Background

• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help

The floods in Gorom have finally made the news - even if it is only in the African media - a week after they happened. You can read more here (English) and here (in French).

Local press in Burkina reports the number of households affected as 877 in Gorom-Gorom. The UN reports the number of people made homeless as 6000 in Gorom, and 4000 in 15 villages to the north of the town.

Injuries and deaths have remained very low, which is a cause for thanks - had the rains come at night when people were asleep inside, these would have been much higher.

Aid Situation
Andy Kostrub of Peace Corps in Gorom-Gorom says: "So far, 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets have been distributed by CONASUR, a government food security agency, to people staying at the shelters. The grain was exhausted within one day." Contributions have also from religious and other organisations, but the total being inadequate to the need. "Action Sociale could not specify any other aid that was on the way, though he said he was in contact with Christian Aid and had received a call from UNICEF. We gather that they are waiting for the international community to act."

"The immediate needs are for food, medicine, mosquito nets, and tents."

Impact of the floods
This photo shows how the water erodes the base of the mud-brick house, causing it eventually to collapse.

"This time of year is normally the hungry season and the peak time for malaria and bronchitis. We expect that disease and hunger will be exacerbated by the displacement and loss of wealth and livelihood brought by the flood. One nurse at the health district is concerned that there has not been a coordinated effort to look after health and hygiene conditions at the places of refuge."

"Electricity, water pumps, telephone, and cell phone service are all functional."

The effect on fields and this year's harvest is not yet clear. Andy is not aware of great problems, but the UN says: "Local authorities reckon the floods will have wiped out harvests affecting thousands of farmers in and around Gorom-Gorom."

Response
I am liaising with Andy and the local pastor, Daniel Kabore of Gorom-Gorom Assemblies of God. Andy says: "We plan on coordinating with the Assembly of God church to do our part in the relief effort. We would like to help assure that emergency supplies reach those in need. Therefore, we’re asking those who are in Ouaga to let us know about the current availability of tents, mosquito nets, blankets, mats, bidons, buckets, clothing, soap, bleach, and medicine for sale or donation, or where we might go looking for them. We are soliciting donations of medicines for treating malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, and basic medical supplies such as alcohol, cotton swabs, syringes, antiseptic and antibiotics. We anticipate that the church will soon be able to accept money donations to purchase and transport food and supplies."

You can send donations through World Horizons (see here ), the organisation I work with, and we will make sure they arrive promptly.

This photo shows how, with typical sahelian resilience, Gorom people carry on normal life and business as they, at the same time, clear up the mess.

The photos here were taken by Andy and Laura, the Gorom Peace Corps workers - more photos of the flood damage can be found here

Background information on Gorom-Gorom here

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 12:40 PM

August 13, 2006

This page is being updated regularly.
Three people have died, and thousands made homeless following flooding around my "second home" of Gorom-Gorom.

• Latest Update
• Gorom-Gorom
• What Happened
• The Needs
• Response
• How to Help
• Photos

What Happened
About 8 000 people in the region of Gorom-Gorom in northern Burkina Faso have lost their homes because of severe flooding. In Gorom itself, about 700 households were lost, affecting about half of the 12 000 population of the town. Roughly another 200 households in villages outside of Gorom were also destroyed. Many of the people affected are now sheltering in schools or with nearby family.

The disaster struck following a large rain, when 136cm (5.5")of rain fell (nearly half the normal year's rainfall) in 6 hours. A dam broke about 5 miles away, and a tide of water waist-high swept through the region. Several nearby villages were completely destroyed, as well as about half of the houses in Gorom-Gorom. Most houses are built of mud, and would have been simply washed away by the onslaught of water.

Only 3 people have died that we are aware of, fortunately. This is largely because the disaster happened during the day. If it had happened at night, when people were asleep in their houses, the losses would have been much higher.

The water largely flowed away from Gorom within the first two days, but the main road is still virtually impassable, and will remain difficult for the rest of the rainy season. Although health risks have been exacerbated, these are not extreme. It seems that fields and animals have not been badly impacted, but that many small businesses may have lost their stock.

Immediate needs
The immediate need is for food, mosquito nets, soap, buckets, clothing, medicines, mats, tents, and blankets. Mosquito nets are very important as the rains bring mosquitos, which carry malaria. Malaria kills nearly 1 million people in Africa each year.

An initial budget estimate for the immediate response to the crisis in Gorom-Gorom and area is about $170,000 (about £90,000) for everything for 700 households in Gorom-Gorom, and 200 in the surrounding area. This is for food, temporary shelter, and household provisions (blankets, medicines, mats, mosquito nets, clothes etc). We are looking for all the help we can get.

Food can be bought in Gorom-Gorom, and most of the rest of these items can be bought in the capital, Ouagadoudou. The tents or plastic sheets for shelter are the most difficult to get hold of, but are very necessary as the rains continue.

Getting help there is a problem: The only road to Gorom from the capital city remains very difficult throughout the rainy season, but supplies were initially being trucked as far as possible, and food hand carried through chest deep water to the other side, where it was picked up and brought to Gorom.

The village water wells appear to be safe. Sanitation and health risks have been exacerbated but do not appear to be extreme at this time, as the water disperses fairly quickly, and there are dry days often between the rains, allowing the ground to dry out.

Longer-term Needs
The main needs will start after the end of the rainy season, helping people re-build not only their homes, but also their livelihoods:
* Food Aid. If fields and crops will have been affected, food aid may be needed throughout the year. The rains started late this year, and the rains need to carry on until the end of Sep for a reasonable harvest.
* Housing. A simple mud-brick house costs about £100 ($200). However, this is not possible immediately, as it is virtually impossible to build mud-brick houses in the rainy season, which runs from July-Sep. There is also the question as to whether people should build in mud again. Certainly local people will not be able to afford to build for themselves, and even if they could, building in cement would be beyond their means.
* Livelihood. I suspect that people will have lost not only possessions and homes and fields, but possibly their businesses too, and there will be need to help people re-build their lives and communities.

Response
I am liaising with a small group composed of the local pastor (Daniel), an American volunteer worker (Andy), and a local nurse (Altine), who are looking at the best way to respond.

Our initial help has been in Food Aid Distribution, on the 25 August and 1 September, through the local church. We are also looking at finding mosquito nets, soap, tents etc for the next phase, and are trying to contact aid agencies who might be able to help. Members of my home church, Glenwood Church, have made a very generous contribution to the work, and Samartian's Purse and Food for the Hungry are also supporting us in our efforts.

A Gorom-Gorom Crisis Committee with village leaders has been organised, to identify priority needs and resources, gather data, get information to the country's government and to public and private aid organizations, and to request needed assistance.

The initial response of local authorities was impressive. The military and police apparently did a great job in bringing food aid in, but circumstances have made consistent distribution difficult. An initial distribution of 10 metric tons of grain, 100 mats, and 100 blankets was made by CONASUR, a government food security agency to those staying in shelters, but this was finished in one day.

We are co-ordinating with the Crisis Committee, but are unaware of any other response at present by local authorities. Christian Aid and the Red Cross are now also responding, and we are liasing with them.

How to Help APPEAL CLOSING
Update: 24 Oct 2006: The appeal for help for the flood relief effort is closing from 31 Oct 2006. If more help is needed for future developments, I will keep you informed.

If you are wish to support other the rest of our work in Gorom-Gorom, please send cheques made payable to World Horizons to:

USA

Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
PO Box 17721,
Richmond,
VA 23226
USA

UK

Burkina Faso Sahel Account
World Horizons
North Dock
Llanelli
Carms SA15 2LF
UK

Thank you.
I will keep you updated as I get news. Please pray. Thank you.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom

Posted by Keith at 07:08 AM

August 12, 2006

Just what it says - my local butcher in Gorom-Gorom. In the villages people rarely eat meat, because it would mean killing one of your own precious animals, which are your security and stock for the future. They are usually only killed on special occasions, such as the arrival of visitors or a religious festival.

In the towns, such as Gorom-Gorom, a few animals are killed - usually goats and sheep, but occasionally a bull or camel - at the slaughter-house each morning, depending on who has animals to sell and is in need of money. Town people can then - if they have the money - buy a handful of meat for the evening meal. On market day, when people come in from the villages, if the market goes well for them, they too may then treat themselves and their children.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos work market meat butcher food

Posted by Keith at 12:23 PM

August 06, 2006

The death of Joseph Sankara, father of former president Thomas Sankara,this week has added to a week already full of emotive memories for Burkina Faso.

Yesterday, August 5th, was Burkina Faso's Independance Day. On Aug. 5, 1960, Upper Volta, as it was then called, achieved full independence from France, and the country is therefore just 68 days older than me! The new president Maurice Yameogo inherited an impoverished country that had lacked the kind of investment France had given to neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, and he was later deposed in a coup in 1966.

The day before, Friday August 4th, was the anniversary of the "Popular Revolution" that brought the remarkable Thomas Sankara to power in 1983, and of the changing of the country's name to Burkina Faso ("Land of Honourable Men") in 1984. Thomas Sankara, "Africa's Che Guevara", was committed to social welfare, women's rights, and eradicating corruption. His rule was however at times somewhat extreme, and he was eventually deposed himself by the current president, Blaise Compaore. He was killed during that coup.

Thomas Sankara is today remembered with popular affection, and the death of his father Joseph, aged 85, on Friday August 4th, the same day as the anniversary of the revolution, must have been particularly poignant for the population. The death of Joseph Sankara has been noted in several of the country's newspapers, including Sidwaya , and l'Observateur.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso thomas sankara independance coup upper volta

Posted by Keith at 09:12 PM

July 29, 2006

Apparently, Burkina Faso and other West African cotton-growing countries are considering taking legal action against the US and its cotton subsidies, which are undermining the economies of poorer countries like Burkina.

Africast reports:
"African countries on Thursday warned they may launch a legal challenge over subsidies to cotton producers in rich countries, notably the United States, after the collapse of talks aimed at making global commerce fairer."

The countries are talking with Brazil, which won an earlier legal challenge to America's illegal cotton subsidies.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina trade wto cotton justice poverty development subsidies farming agriculture

Posted by Keith at 07:48 AM

July 26, 2006

Cotton
Following my posting on cotton a few days ago, the BBC have just filed this report on the struggles faced by cotton farmers in Burkina Faso, and the temptation to protectionism as a response to the inequities of American subsidies. Meanwhile, the US and EU continue to blame each other for the failure of the latest WTO talks, for which - as always - the poorer countries will be the ones to suffer in the fall-out of richer nations' bickering.

Aid
The BBC also reports on Oxfam's call for a re-examination of the approach to emergency aid. Oxfam say that recent emergencies have focused attention on immediate aid without enough attention to longer-term development strategies, and that aid is often late and expensive. They recommend buying aid locally and focusin on small-scale, low-tech development strategies such as livestock purchase deals as ways to break the cycle of dependance.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina aid trade wto cotton justice poverty development subsidies farming agriculture

Posted by Keith at 08:33 AM

July 22, 2006

The BBC and UN report that the former head of Burkina's presidential guard, Marcel Kafaondo, has had charges dropped against him for the murder of journalist Norbert Zongo (pictured), due to lack of evidence.

Kafando had already been convicted for the murder of David Ouedraogo, the chauffeur of the president's brother. It was this murder that Zongo was investigating when he was killed in 1998. He and three others were found burned and bullet-ridden in Zongo's car, 100km from Ouaga. The official investigation in 1999 into Zongo's murder concluded that Zongo's death was for political reasons linked to his research, and six presidential bodyguards were identified as suspects.

Zongo was the country's most well-known and outspoken journalist, and publishing manager of the Burkina national newspaper l'Independant. His murder, and the apparent impunity of those behind it, sparked country-wide protests with street demonstrations by students, and vocal criticism by the press. After an initial official crackdown on the demonstrations, a more conciliatory approach was tried by the presidency, and the long-term benefit of the case has been a response of the government to public pressure to increase democracy and transparency in the country's institutions.

The "Zongo case" has continued, 8 years later, to stir people's emotions in Burkina. Especially in his home town of Koudougou, the anniversary of his death is remembered and marked, and this has kept a degree of pressure for justice. The latest ruling is being noted with disappointment and frustration, and leaves a lack of closure on a key wound for a country wanting to move forward into a new future.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina norbert zongo journalism justice

Posted by Keith at 08:24 AM

July 19, 2006

A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away."
(Prov 13:23)

A while ago, I wrote about the US cotton subsidies, how they depress world prices and harm the economy of poor cotton-producing countries such as Burkina Faso. Burkina loses more money through the effect of US cotton subsidies than it receives through US aid. These subsidies have been declared illegal by the WTO.

Then, to the hope of millions, the US announced it was scrapping its cotton subsidies.

US farmers see the reality for themselves
But it seems there is still a problem. US cotton farmers have recently visited Burkina's neighbour, Mali, and said themselves that US cotton subsidies are hurting Africans and "worsening hardship in the world's poorest region". In 2004-05, $4.2 billion in government subsidies was given to just 25 000 US cotton producers, affecting between 15 and 20 million people in Africa who depend on the crop.

In addition, a paper produced by TCS observes: "The vast majority of these and other commodity subsidies go to the largest and most profitable farm operations. ... one farm in Arkansas received $23 million in cotton subsidies between fiscal years 1996 and 2001."

The situation as it stands
So what happened to that "scrapping" of the subsidies?

Well, in fact, Congress only agreed to scrap one part of the subsidies (the the Step 2 cotton export subsidy program if you are interested), and that only comes into effect as from next month. Oxfam does a good analysis of that decision here.

It was a good start, but leaves $3.2 billion in annual cotton subsidies and $1.6 billion in export credits untouched - all equally illegal and unjust.

West Africa have seen a 14% increase in their cotton yields, but the absence of an equitable price, caused by the western subsidies, meant a 31% loss in the income they received from it. While the price of imports such as oil are rising, the price Burkina can receive for its key export is falling due to western subsidies. So we keep Burkina poor by our unjust trade rules, and then appease our consciences by giving a few million in aid.

International deliberations
Ahead of the WTO, the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Benin have been continuing their fight for the elimination of cotton subsidies worldwide. President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso spoke to the Trade Negotiating Committee of the WTO in June, and, with the president of Mali, has written a letter to the New York Times condemning the subsidies.

One year after the climax of the Make Poverty History campaign at the G8 summit in Edinburgh, the EU and US are still arguing over who needs to make more cuts to their subsidies and tariffs. The Middle East crisis then inevitably kicked concern for Africa onto the sidelines. Yesterday, there was more hope as trade ministers have been sent to meet at the WTO with a principle of "more flexibility" in the aim of resolving the issues of trade subsidies and tariffs.

Parallel to the G8 summit in Russia, there is another summit in Gao in Mali, trying to bring attention to the region's issues. With immigration from Africa to Europe a major concern for the "rich nations", the gathering in Mali observes that "working to improve the standard of living in sub-Saharan Africa is the only way to stem the tide of immigration".

Justice and common sense
The obvious injustice of the vast discrepency of wealth between the rich and poor world is also a cause for international social disruption - whether that be immigration or terrorism.

Justice in trade rules for the poor, giving a fair income for their work, is not only right on its own merit, but is beneficial to all. It gives dignity to people, allowing them to work to improve their lives rather than being so dependant on aid. And it takes away one of the main incentives to the international social unrest that so threatens our world today.

Please pray and campaign for trade justice for the poor:
UK:
Tear Fund
US: ONE

A good paper by Oxfam on the cotton issue is available here.

Tags: burkina faso africa burkina aid trade wto cotton justice poverty g8 subsidies farming agriculture

Posted by Keith at 07:58 AM

July 17, 2006

None of them, along with 95 other countries have McDonalds.

In fact only three countries in Africa - the three wealthiest - have the Golden Arches.

Blessed are the poor, for they shall not have a Big Mac.

Tags: burkina burkina faso africa mdconalds big mac

Posted by Keith at 07:16 AM

July 11, 2006

The face of Osama bin Laden glared down at me from his camel, a kalashnikov gun in his hand.

Fortunately, he was only on the front of a t-shirt of a young boy, who was standing listening as I chatted at Gorom-Gorom market with some friends. Bin Laden is not physically in Burkina Faso, of course - in spite of the occasional local rumour he was hiding out it Deou, a remote market town north of Gorom-Gorom. However, t-shirts with his face are widespread - although not as widely seen now as in 2002. But what does this mean - does he really have so much support here?

"Ada anndi mo, naa?" I asked the boy. "Do you know who he is?"
"Samma Biladden" the boy replied knowledgably.
"Uh-huh, and who is he?"
The boy shrugged. No idea. I asked my friends, who also didn't know. I reminded them of the events of 9-11, which they had heard of on the radio, and they looked with renewed concern at the boy's t-shirt, the boy now squirming with the sudden attention directed at his chest.
"Robel mawdo!" I heard them say with alarm and awe. "He is a major bad guy!"

Wahhabiya Islam and a bit of dress sense
In the period after 9/11, ObL t-shirts were to be seen everywhere, worn around Gorom-Gorom and sold at the market, with ObL in various heroic poses. Like the boy I met, many people who have no idea who ObL is, and who certainly would not support his cause, were trotting round Gorom with his face adorning their chests. If you have no money to buy new clothes, and someone offers you a free t-shirt, what will you say...?

I can only imagine that someone with a lot of money had them made and shipped in, and then distributed or sold very cheaply through the network of Wahhabiya Muslims there. This is the Islamic sect to which ObL belongs. It doesn't imply that the Wahhabiya in Gorom support ObL of course, anymore than the Gorom church receiving t-shirts for distribution with David Beckham on should be seen as England football supporters.

The Wahhabiya are a Sunni sect, a more conservative, and revivalist group than the other Muslim sects in Gorom. (We have 4 altogether, including the Tijaniyya, the Ahmadiyya, and the Qadiriyya). However, the Wahhabiya in Gorom are generally peacable - certainly not extremist or terrorist. But they are fairly new arrivals in Gorom - in the last 10 years - and their particular form of Islam (traditional dress, rejection of the use of charms, way of praying etc) has set them apart and caused some tensions - even arguments - with the other sects.

They are not wealthy, but they do get money from somewhere - for example, to build their mosque (another cause for fall-out with the other Muslims, who claimed there should only be one "Friday mosque" in town). Maybe the same source provided the ObL t-shirts. Maybe they were surplus to requirement - after all, Wahhibiya Muslims don't generally wear t-shirts...

By their clothes shall you know them...?
In any case, most people wearing the t-shirts, like the boy at market, have no idea who ObL is. This is higlighted by this picture of a sweet young mother and friend of ours in Gorom. It might not be obvious, but she is wearing an Osama bin Laden t-shirt, and an Assemblies of God skirt - and with no idea what either of them are! Both were probably given to her.

Sometimes dress can tell you something about the person wearing the clothes. And - whether that is an ObL t-shirt, or a "hoody", that can initially be frightening. But sometimes the reason for what the person is wearing is not what we think, and we can wrongly judge them. Sometimes, the only way to find out is to get past our fear, and to get to know the person and their story.

Clothing doesn't last long here. The ObL t-shirts have by now mostly been worn too thin to last. They have been replaced by ones with President Blaise Compaore (after last year's elections), which will no doubt soon be supplanted by the cast-offs from this year's World Cup. Expect to see Zidane and Beckham and co in Gorom soon. But don't read too much into their popularity...

Tags: burkina burkina faso africa osama bin laden clothes islam wahibiya 9-11 hoodies

Posted by Keith at 01:13 PM

July 04, 2006

Three in the front and four in the back is the legal limit for taxis in Ouagadougou.

Ouaga's ubiquitous lime-green taxis are an assortment of mostly run-down old Peugeots, Toyotas and even Mercedes, mostly with little in the way of suspension, and often with a suspicious lack of steering or brakes. The taxi-driver rarely owns his own vehicle, usually renting it from some enterprising and presumably wealthy patron.

A fare wage...?
The going rate is 200cfa (20p) for a single journey - that is, a journey in or out of town on one of the main tarmac roads. If you want to be dropped off at your door, needing a diversion from the main road, be prepared to pay extra. Or, if you want to cross the centre of town to a suburb on the other side, you will either need to take a second taxi, or negotiate for the full journey for a higher price. 20p for a taxi ride of a few miles isn't bad for the client, but it is no wonder the drivers cram the passengers in.

The taxi-driver has a hard job making a living. He can spend about 12 hours on the job, looking for passengers at 20p a time. Out of the money he receives he has to pay rent for the car and of course buy fuel, and presumably pay tax and insurance.

Oil prices and the man on the street
Recent international oil price rises have pushed fuel prices in Burkina Faso up by 40%, causing a 3-day strike by the taxi-drivers. They wanted the right to put up fares to 300cfa, but were not allowed to do so. They have been forced to continue at 200cfa, and to take an effective cut in their already meagre income. Taxi drivers in Ouaga are looking grim these days. They have no alternative but to continue, gambling without understanding on the international oil markets, hoping that the next wind will blow for once in their favour.

If ever you take a taxi in Ouaga, you might want to remember this. Don't be too aggressive about haggling for your price, or complaining about the crowded taxi. What is the journey worth to you? What would you pay for it back home? And if you as a rich tourist can easily afford the extra 10p that may help buy the driver's children's dinner, should you worry if he charges you extra just because you are white?

Can't you afford to be taken for a ride...?

Tags: burkina burkina faso africa ouagadougou travel taxis

Posted by Keith at 08:31 AM

June 11, 2006

Although Burkina Faso doesn't make the news a lot, that doesn't meant there is nothing happening there! Here's a brief round-up of some news from Burkina Faso in the last couple of months since I left in March:

Rains, locusts, and hunger
The rains have started in the south of the country, and good rains are predicted for the Sahel. Steve tells me there has even been at least one rain in the north, although this is too early to be the start of the season there. Last year's harvest was good, but as we enter the toughest time of year, long-term effects from the 2004-5 food crisis continue due to "depletion of household assets including high livestock mortalities and indebtedness, notably in the northern part of the country, where very high malnutrition rates continue to be reported." The UK is giving £1.5 over the next three years to the West African Sahel region to try and help tackle the vulnerabilities of the area.

Locusts fortunately seem unlikely to be a problem this year.

Elections
In the country's municipal elections, the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) won nearly two-thirds of Burkina Faso's local council seats. The elections seem to have passed off peacefully, but with a low turn-out - just under half of the country's 3.8 million registered voters cast their ballots.

Health
Meningitis. There was a serious outbreak of meningitis in March, leading to the deaths of over 600 people. President Compaore has been heading up a vaccination campaign.

FGM. Burkina Faso has been continuing its vigorous campaign against FGM. A recent study has shown clearly for the first time the evidence of increased dangers and fatalities for women in childbirth who have had FGM, and the WHO has called FGM "a form of torture", calling for a complete end to the practice.

Economy
Paul Wolfowita, the World Bank president, notes Burkina Faso as one of several successes in his call to keep Africa as a priority. Burkina achieved over 7% GDP growth in 2005, with the IMF predicting 5.6% for 2006. This was in spite of a fall in cotton prices and surge in oil prices. The rise in oil prices has also caused a hike in petrol costs at the pump in Burkina Faso, leading to recent strikes.

The World Bank and African Development Bank have both approved the writing off of Burkina's debt, with the goal of helping the government channel resources into poverty relief, and also stimulate economic growth. The Burkina government has been urged to resist Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) as a threat to West African economy, and instead examine wider regional integration through the West African Trade Regional Liberalisation scheme. The African Develoment Bank suggests abolishing visas within the region, and developing infrastructure to improve regional integration and trade. In this vein Burkina and Ghana are increasing co-operation, including a joint tomatoes venture.

Aid
Hilary Benn, the UK’s International Development Secretary has said, following a report, that allowing governments in poor countries to decide for themselves how to spend aid money has led to more schools and hospital for the poor. The reporton seven countries, including Burkina Faso, found that handing aid money to the treasuries in poor countries made the flow of overseas assistance more predictable and helped governments plan long-term anti-poverty strategies.

France is giving $387m for education, infrastructure, water, and sanitation. The World Bank has approved $47m in aid for health sector in Burkina Faso, including $12m for malaria, a massive killer in the region.

The US is giving $20m to West African states to help develop their cotton industries. West Africa, including Burkina Faso, has some of the most efficient cotton producing in the world, and is the world's 3rd largest cotton-producing region, but this has been undermined by low world prices caused in part by the $4.2 billion US cotton subsidies. The US is beginning to deal with them, but the West African nations are calling for more severe cuts in subsidies.

Gold
Companies continue to scramble for their bit of the potential gold fields in Burkina, with action by Orezone, Goldcrest, Goldrush, Semafo, Cluff, High river, and Riverstone

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso aid trade sahel health economy gold cotton fgm meningitis

Posted by Keith at 10:26 AM

June 02, 2006

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the tourism potential of Burkina Faso. Well, I have just discovered and bought the new Bradt travel guide to Burkina Faso.

At first look, it appears accurate, and certainly much more in-depth than the Lonely Planet or other alternatives. I'm looking forward to reading it more, and seeing how it matches up.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso tourism travel sahel travel guide

Posted by Keith at 08:10 AM

May 24, 2006

Several new outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu have been confirmed in Burkina Faso, in the capital Ouagadougou, the second city of Bobo-Dioulasso, and Sabou, a town 100km west of Ouaga. The first case was discovered last month.

No human cases have yet been identified, but the inadequate health infrastructure could mean they are simply going undetected. Close contact of a large part of the population with the handling of poultry increases the possibility of transmission to humans. The estimated cost of dealing with the bird flu in Burkina Faso is $10 million, a challenge for the third poorest country in the world, even with help from France and China.

One cause for hope is the report that wild birds may not, as previously believed, play a major role in spreading the virus, and that this may explain why the disease has not spread as quickly as feared.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso h5n1 bird flu sahel disease health

Posted by Keith at 09:21 AM

April 07, 2006

What are the challenges of finding bird flu in Britain, as compared with Burkina Faso, as both have done this week?

Reuters reports: "When it comes to avian influenza we know early detection and rapid response to the outbreak is crucial to getting rid of it, and when we say early response we mean hours that can make all the difference" said OIE spokesperson Maria Zampaglione. "To do that you need a chain that is working very well, that can detect the disease rapidly and act quickly afterwards."

"For an epidemic to be contained control measures including disinfection, movement controls and widespread culling of poultry and wild birds should be enacted within 48 hours of the outbreak."

So how do Britain and Burkina compare?

Bird flu in Britain
In Britain, according to the BBC, the dead swan is a danger because the virus might spread from wild birds to poultry, and thus devastate the industry. But risk to people is low because few people get close enough to birds to touch them, which is necessary for transmission of the disease, as things stand.

At the same time, there are extensive protective measures in place, poultry is being closely monitored, and information is rapidly analysed and processed. Spread of the virus to poultry is reduced because of the isolated conditions of most poultry from wild birds.

For the worst case scenario, of the virus mutating and spreading among humans, the UK government has stockpiled the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, and plans to buy a supply of H5N1 vaccine to give to groups such as health-workers.

Bird flu in Burkina Faso
In Burkina, however, it is a different story. The virus is already found in poultry, and most people, including children, have close contact with chickens.

Most people are very isolated with their own few chickens out in the yard. Structures for diseminating information, and for detection and prevention measures are simply inadequate to the task. Thus, there was a delay of 1 month between the death of the birds and them being sent for test. The government has started culling birds around the yard where the virus was found, and has instigated a 3km isolation zone, but the delay will potentially have allowed the virus to already spread further.

Financially, too, this is a heavy burden. The Burkina Faso government estimated in February that a national prevention plan would alone cost £2 million, of which they have only £100 000. On top of that is the cost of compensation for dead birds. The government has offered up to £1.50 per bird.

Burkina has asked for £1.5 million from international donors to help with the bird flu crisis.

And this is for the third poorest country in the world, still coping with the long-term fall-out from the 2004 food crisis, and all on top of dealing with a meningitis outbreak that has killed over 750 people this year.

Please continue to pray for Burkina.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso travel famine bird flu sahel disease health avian flu h5n1

Posted by Keith at 09:44 AM

April 04, 2006

Burkina Faso has just become the 5th African country to confirm the presence of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

The spread of bird flu to Burkina
This was, sadly, fairly inevitable once it had been found in Niger - although the government were quick in closing down the frontiers to poultry, so much of the border is of course permeable to local traffic, and of course no-one can stop the birds flying overhead.

Chickens are the cheapest source of meat protein in Burkina, and most families will have a few running around, so this affects everyone. The chicken flu virus appears at the moment to be only spread to humans by close contact with the killing and handling of sick poultry. In Burkina this is bad enough, since that could be just about anyone and everyone. The greatest fear however is that the virus may mutate so that it spreads from human to human.

Food Crisis and the local Economy
Already when I was in Burkina, chicken prices were dropping as everyone was getting rid of them because of the fear of bird flu. At the same time, sheep, goat, and cattle prices are high. So, if you have so little money, what meat would you eat? When you have no choice, what choice do you have...?

Thankfully last year's harvest was good in Burkina, but - as we have seen on the television from Niger the last few days - the long-term effects of the 2004 food crisis are also impacting people already. People who took out loans or lost their herds during the crisis in 2004, or who had nothing left to sow in 2005, are suffering again. The situation is worse in Niger than Burkina, where the situation was more contained, and where the government, agencies, and churches responded more quickly and efficiently. But, in Burkina too, it is the most vulnerable of course who will suffer again.

Please pray
Please pray for the protection of the Burkinabe population, and that the virus does not mutate.

Thank you.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso travel famine bird flu sahel disease health

Posted by Keith at 11:12 AM

April 01, 2006

Just before I went to Burkina Faso, I was asked by Northstar Travel Media if I would be interested in updating the Burkina Faso chapter of their online “Intelliguide” travel guide. Strangely they were having trouble finding travel writers with much experience of Burkina…

I just finished the job yesterday, and it has been fascinating. It has been nice being asked to write about Burkina, and about some of the things there I know and love. But it has also given me an opportunity to look a bit more into other parts of Burkina that I know of and yet where I have never done the tourist visit thing. Now, I know Burkina doesn’t leap to the mind as a top tourism destination, but there is actually quite a bit of interesting stuff there – the wildlife parks, the mask festivals, the traditional villages and dances, the markets, and of course the famous Fespaco film festival. It strikes me that Burkina is under-developed as a tourism destination, and maybe there is room for an ethical tourism business to be started there.

Sharon, my contact at Northstar, has been very friendly, and if you are a travel agent, I can recommend you get in touch with them. I have particularly appreciated how, as well as just the facts about the destination, they look for input on appropriate etiquette and behaviour - something from my past experience of tourists in Burkina that seems to have been lacking in many people's preparation.

Unfortunately, as you will have noticed if you followed the link above, Northstar is a subscription service, and this means you won’t actually be able to get onto the website to read what I have written...

Unless of course you pay...

I know. Frustrating isn’t it?

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso tourism travel sahel travel writing

Posted by Keith at 07:26 PM

March 29, 2006

On the way down from Gorom-Gorom back down to Ouagadougou during my recent visit to Burkina Faso, we bumped into various celebrations of International Women's Day. This is a day to commemorate the contributions of women in society, as well as to highlight the inequalities, oppression, and violence still suffered by many women around the world.

Women's Rights and Equality
The previous president of Burkina, the radical Thomas Sankara, was a big supporter of equality for women, and he banned female circumcision, condemned polygamy, and promoted contraception. Women's Day was a big deal. On that day, women stayed at home, while the men had to do the shopping and cooking. Unfortunately, the women got really upset about it because the men had no idea of prices and ended up paying up far too much for stuff at market!

There has been progress in many areas for women in Burkina - women have equal rights by law, and the government has campaigned vigorously against early and forced marriage, fgm etc. But, in rural areas in particular, where traditional customs dominate and awareness of legal rights are minimal, such laws are difficult to enforce, and reports show that women continue to suffer inequality and violence. In such areas, social and cultural factors negatively impact levels of female school enrolment, inheritance, custody of children, land ownership, access to work and finance, and political decision-making.

Famous Burkinabe Women
In the towns and cities, opportunities are increasingly available for women, and many are making use of them. Here is a list of some successful women from Burkina Faso. Fanta Regina Nacro is a film director from Tenkodogo, whose 2004 film "La Nuit de Verite" (The Night of Truth) has won several prizes. "Mai" Lingani is a popular singer, who divides her time between Burkina and New York, and whose band Burkina Electric, will be playing at the Ouagadougou Jazz Festival this year.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso women travel women's day sahel

Posted by Keith at 10:26 AM

March 23, 2006

There was notable enthusiasm in two Fulani villages I visited during my time in Burkina Faso - Moussa's village of Yengerentou, and Yusufi's village. The reason for the excitement was that in both places, pumps that had been broken down were now repaired.

The lack of a ready source of clean water means either a walk - usually for the women - of several miles to the next pump - which will of course then be twice as crowded. Or, a return to the closer, unclean supplies of hand-dug wells or lakes. Dirty water is the source of many life-threatening diseases, including diarrhoea, hepatitis, cholera, typhoid, and schistosomiasis.

On a previous visit to Yusufi's village, our clean water had run out, and the water had not yet arrived from the distant pump. One of our number thus resorted to filtering the local water through his turban to try and remove the worst of the impurities, including the dreaded Guinea Worm. Guinea Worm is a horrible little worm. Once inside, the worm can grow up to 2-3ft long, and will then eventually emerge through the skin on the feet. It is very painful, and can incapacitate someone for 2-3 months - or more if if gets infected. As this usually happens during the rainy season, when work is needed in the fields, it is disastrous. You don't want to get Guinea Worm. The Burkina Faso government has a vigorous campaign encouraging people to use clean water supplies, where possible, and to filter water otherwise (hence the turban).

Yesterday was World Water Day. 1 in 5 of the world's population still lack access to clean water. Remember these stories when you turn on the tap, or complain about not being able to use the garden sprinkler because of a water shortage.

So, everyone was happy that their pumps were working well. The one in Yengerentou was busy - pumps become a social place of meeting and laughter, as everyone waits their turn. We used to collect the water every day at Boukouma, and I can assure you that turning the tap on at home was never so much fun.

And in Yusufi's village, the water was clean and pure... and decidedly less chewy.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso guinea worm travel world water day water sahel disease health

Posted by Keith at 08:40 AM

February 15, 2006

Gorom-Gorom is where I lived and worked for nearly 11 years, from 1992-2003.

Gorom-Gorom is the capital town of the province of Oudalan, the most north-eastern province in Burkina Faso, bordering both Mali and Niger. In the last 15 years, the town has acquired both running water and electricity, and the market was being rebuilt when I left. But the town is still cut off in rainy season, as the dirt road gets washed away. The road from Ouagadougou is apparently being laid with tarmac as far as Dori at present, leaving just the last - and worst - 56km untreated.

But it is worth the journey. Gorom-Gorom is in all those West African guide books as a "must-see" for anyone visiting Burkina Faso. This is primarily because of the fascinating mix of peoples and cultures of the area, particularly in evident every Thursday on market day.

The Peoples of Gorom-Gorom
There are of course the Fulani. As in Djibo, the men are mostly found down at the cattle market, buying, selling, herding, or just watching the cattle. While debates about price go on, they crouch in the dust, or stand one-legged eyeing the animals that are their life. Fulani women, dressed often in the typical blue cloth of the Gaoob'e Fulani that dominate this region, and with silver in their hair, are in the main market. They may be selling mats they have made, buying food for the family, or just meeting up to chat with family and friends.

Then there are the Tamacheq - the light skinned Tuareg (the "blue men of the desert") and the Bella, the ex-slaves of the Tuareg nobles. There are many Bella, but not many Tuareg here. The Bella have adopted the turbans, robes, swords, camels, and language (Tamacheq) of their old masters' culture. Like the Fulani, the Tuareg's loss of their slaves has left them often ill-equipped for survival, whereas the hard-working ex-slaves are often now much better off.

And then there are the Songhai. Related to the Djerma people of Niger, this is about as far from the River Niger that they get. The name Gorom-Gorom comes from the Sonhai name, meaning "sit down, we're going to sit down." The name goes back apparently to two brothers who, tired from travelling first stopped here. And one said to the other.... The Songhai have a less strict attachment to Islam than the Fulani or Tamacheq, and have many animistic practices in the surrounding, mostly more eastern areas.

Also in the market you will find Mossi from Ouagadougou, Maalleebe from Mali, Hausa from Niger, Hasania Arabs from Mauritania, Yoruba traders from Nigeria, and the occasional backpacking tubaaku, who has read his "Guide to West Africa", and come up on the bus from the capital the day before. If he has the time and inclination, he will barter a price with the local tourist guides for a camel trip to the sand dunes of Menegou, or a bush-taxi ride to the more spectacular ones 60km away at Oursi.

Tubaakus aside, the particular mix of peoples and the flat, dry landscape does give Gorom, and the whole province of Oudalan, a feel unlike anywhere else in the country - more like Niger or Mali than the rest of Burkina. It will be good to get back home...

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso gorom-gorom tamacheq tuareg songhai fulani market

Posted by Keith at 07:56 PM

February 13, 2006

On Friday I will arrive in Ouagadougou, and on Saturday, I will head north to Djibo.

Djibo is about 125 miles north of Ouagadougou. When you reach Djibo, it feels like you reach the start of the Sahel proper ("sahel" means "shore of the desert"). To the south of Djibo is Mossi territory, to the north is primarily a Fulani area, and the small town of Djibo is the place where the two peoples mix - together with a few Kurumba from scattered villages in the area too.

Djibo Town
I say "small" - I guess Djibo has a population of about 10 000, which has grown up around the large lake and small hills. The weekly cattle market that meets down by the lake brings Fulani in from all the surrounding villages. Many of the herders are standing on one leg watching their animals, or crouching in the dirt discussing prices. This is the literal stock market - where the fall and rise of prices week by week can devastate community life. If the big traders from the city have come, and spent their money, they will be arranging for the animals to be walked down to the capital. (Steve's account of his journey with the herders is well worth a read.)

This is a Muslim area, but there are also a number of Mossi churches there, and even a bible school run by one of the national churches. As well as that, there is a small Fulani congregation, too. When I was starting my work among the Fulani, I visited Paul, a missionary who had been there years. He had arrived just before the famines of the 70's, and his work had been swamped by responding to that need. A small group of Fulani had decided to follow the way of Christ. The week I went to see Paul, the new central market had recently opened, and there was a Tuareg camel race in celebration of President Blaise Compaore visiting Djibo. Paul moved on eventually, but others replaced him, and there is still a Fulani church there.

After more than 10 years in Gorom-Gorom, Steve and I moved to Djibo - although I never actually spent much time there during my year based there. I travelled a lot during that time, and we also did the Fulani Discipling Community at Boukouma, so Djibo never really quite felt like home.

Visiting Djibo
I will arrive in Djibo on the Saturday, and on Sunday morning I have been asked to preach at the Fulani church. I hope I haven't forgotten too much of my Fulfulde in the two years I have now been away. Kiwi missionaries Carl and Sharlene will be there. But I hear they have - at least temporarily - a Fulani pastor from another town to help run the church. His name is Tongooga, and I gather he is on a one-year practical placement from Bible School in Benin. There are some lovely Christians in the Djibo church, some of whom have recently been baptised. And others have joined since I have been away - like Jaynebu.

I am looking forward to seeing all these guys again, and of course my colleague Steve, and our new co-workers Cristiano and Irenaldo from Brazil. Steve seems to be doing a great job, building relationships, integrating into Fulani culture, and sharing Christ with the Fulani, and it will be great to spend time together again. He has of course also been trying to set up the Radio Station in Djibo, so it will be good to see how that is going.

And then there's Ken and Jocelyn, and their team, running a hospital where they provided the excellent surgery and care for thousands who would not otherwise have any chance of survival. And Nikiema Amade, one of the teachers at the Bible School, who used to be pastor in Gorom-Gorom.

Please pray for all these people, serving God faithfully and for God to continue to pour out his blessing and his Holy Spirit on Djibo.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso djibo mossi church mission fulani

Posted by Keith at 10:42 PM

February 07, 2006

On 17 Feb, I will fly back into Ouagdougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso.

The Big Smoke
Known affectionately as Ouaga, the capital of Burkina has a population of about 1 million, and is a city like most other capitals, where everything can be bought - if you have the money. There are of course the banks, hotels, restaurants, swimming pools, etc that are necessary to keep the western businessmen, development workers, embassy staff, and of course missionaries able to cope with life in Africa... But since my first visits in 1985, and my installation in 1989, it has developed considerably. Now you can find parts of town with car showrooms and fancy boutiques that clearly cater not only to westerners, but also to the growing Burkinabe middle class and elite.

At the same time, while there are not the vast slums you find in many other countries, there are the "non-loti" parts of town - the unplanned sprawls of mud-brick or cement houses and yards filled with communities of family members and friends trying to survive in the big city. You see them selling coffee or second-hand clothes at the side of the road, or bras and phone cards at the stop lights. Ouaga used to be "moped city", where the roads swarmed with what seemed like thousands of little motor scooters that jostled for their little bit of road space, and belching out Ouaga's own "big smoke". There are still a lot of them around, but many of the moped riders seem to have moved up in the world - there are certainly many more cars now than ever there were before. It was always a bit of a shock, and even nerve-racking, arriving from Gorom-Gorom on my motorbike. After months of open, empty country roads, the traffic of Ouaga felt claustrophobic and dangerous.

The wealth of culture
Most of Burkina's 60+ different peoples can be found mingling in the capital - each bringing something of their own culture to add to the mix. In the Fulani parts of town, the crowded yards also usually have several cows squeezed into the available space. But Ouaga is really Mossi territory. The Mossi are the main people in Burkina, traditionally farmers, and are generally very hospitable and friendly. Although, like cities everywhere, Ouaga does not always reflect the best of its people, the values of hospitality, respect, and community of the village are often still very evident.

Ouagadougou was the capital of the powerful Mossi kingdom from the 15-19th centuries. The Mossi were one of the few tribes to effectively resist the Fulani armies and their call to become Muslims en masse. Today, Islam is increasingly strong there, but there are also many Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, and the religions generally live peacefully alongside each other. The Protestant church in Ouagadougou is evangelical, vibrant and growing, with some very large churches.

In addition, Ouagadougou has become famous for two main cultural events that draw crowds from all over Africa and even the world. One is the biennial FESPACO, Africa's biggest film festival, which I wrote about here. In the intervening years is SIAO, Africa's largest craft fair. Both are dynamic and exciting events, bringing much-deserved attention to the wealth of Burkinabe art and culture.

Generally I prefer the quiet life of Gorom-Gorom and the villages, but I usually enjoyed my visits to the capital for a break and a rest. Ouaga has changed so much since I moved up north in 1992, and there are parts of town I hardly know now. It will be interesting to see how much more it has developed since I left.

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso ouagadougou mossi fulani fespaco siao

Posted by Keith at 06:22 PM

February 02, 2006

The BBC reports today that the US has scrapped its major cotton subsidies! This has to be good news for Burkina Faso.

These subsidies had been declared illegal by the WTO because they distorted the global market.

In particular, they undermined the prices that poor cotton-producing countries like Burkina Faso could get for their cotton. Such subsidies thus actively damaged efforts of these countries to work their own way out of poverty. I wrote about the issue here.

Now that the US has taken this step, let's hope the EU begin to deal with the iniquities of the Common Agriculture Policy subsidies...

Tags: africa burkina burkina faso trade wto cotton justice poverty subsidies us cotton subsidies

Posted by Keith at 08:47 AM

January 30, 2006

It seems everyone is discovering gold in Burkina Faso these days: SEMAFO have upped their estimate of the gold in their Mana site by 62% from 542 000 ounces to 877,200. Gold Rush and High River are likewise anticipating further riches from Burkina gold. And Orezone, the company now running the Essakane mine near Gorom-Gorom, have also found more gold than expected at some of their sites. Unless I am mistaken, all these companies are Canadian.

Gold mines - a blessing for who?
While some rich people are doubtless set to increase their fortunes, I wonder what the impact will be for Burkina and for the local people? Potentially it could benefit the country enormously, but of course it is not always the case. Mining has been a controversial subject in Burkina Faso and elsewhere in Africa. Events in Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and other places have highlighted common problems in mining, inlcuding impact on local populations and the environment, poorly treated workforces, corruption, and how the profits of the mine do not always benefit the local people or area.

The manganese mine in Tambao, north of Gorom-Gorom has good quality ore and huge potential, but the project has been on and off for years - currently off, I believe. We heard many stories, and as the project was running, we saw workers shipped in from the capital, and trucks shipping the mountain back down south bith by bit. Some locals were profiting from providing services, but then the work stopped and the trucks disappeared. I have guesses, but no real idea why.

Gold mining by hand
Gold in Burkina was until recently largely mined by hand. Essakane, close to where I lived for many years, was a source of hope for hundreds of families. When gold was found there, a small gold town grew up, with all the accompanying problems of sickness, crime, prostitution (and therefore AIDS of course) etc. Men would hand-dig tunnels many meters deep and long, working ridiculous hours, sustained often by amphetamines and kola nuts more than food. Sometimes the tunnels would collapse, killing the men inside.

It was a desolate place, a moonscape, yet for many famlies in the least developed part of the third poorest country in the world, it offered some hope of a better life. Once the harvest was in, people would leave their villages to try their luck at the gold mines. Unfortunately of course, it rarely worked out that way, and there were stories of some who both made and lost their fortune there. For most it was scraping an existence from the ground.

Gold mining and ethics
Now Essakane is being run by Orezone. As I understand it, those digging by hand had to leave, and the site is being run exclusively by the company. Now, part of me is not sad to see the appalling conditions of the manual gold hunters come to an end. And yet, it was one option among very few for people in this region. I would be sorry if hope was once again snatched from them with nothing to replace it. Orezone of course has its business to run, but I hope that their investment into the development of the region is more than a nominal gift of a well or food aid now and again. People's lives have been affected by the company's arrival, and it should not be that the result is that a few benefit while the vast majority of the poorest and most vulnerable are left once more with no options.

A meeting in Toronto in 2002 aimed to develop an ethical code for mining looking at many of these issues. I only hope that an ethical framework is in place that will enable both local people and the country of Burkina Faso to benefit fully from the much-needed riches discovered in her soil.

Tags: burkina faso africa gold burkina gorom-gorom mining manganese poverty

Posted by Keith at 12:56 PM

January 29, 2006

Burkina Faso has been engaged recently in a concerted campaign to combat elephantiasis in the country.

The disease causes disfigurement of limbs and can affect genitals and breasts as well. Such disfigurement can not only rob people of the ability to work, but result in stigmatisation, social rejection and psychological trauma. Apparently about 1 million are affected in some way in Burkina.

15 000 health workers and volunteers have been distributing free medicines and spreading information and awareness about the disease, helped by free medicines provided by GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, and 200 million CFA francs (US $368,000) from the Burkina government.

Tags: burkina faso africa elephantiasis burkina health

Posted by Keith at 10:19 AM

January 28, 2006

Following ongoing tensions between Burkina Faso and neighbours Cote d'Ivoire over the civil war there, there is now also a cross-border situation with Benin.

Cote d'Ivoire
In Cote d'Ivoire, the Burkinabe government and people have often been accused of siding with the northern rebels, an accusation denied by the Burkinabe government. They claim that the Burkinabe are being used as scapegoats for the problems there. Recently several Burkinabe were arrested and killed after attacks on a military camp in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d'Ivoire. But the press, quoting residents, claimed some of those arrested turned out to be gardeners, carpenters or security guards who were near the camp at the time of the attack. Cote d'Ivoire has been split in two for several years during this civil war, and the UN has called for sanctions against the Ivoirian government for blocking the peace process.

Benin
In Benin, it seems that, at least at this stage, the conflict is a relatively minor affair. Apparently, the Bariba people of Benin and the Mossi of Burkina Faso have clashed in recent years, accusing each other of land incursion. This week, Benin's top military officer accused Burkina Faso of launching an armed incursion into the Benin side of the area. The accusation was denied by Clement Sawadogo, the Burkinabe territorial minister, saying: "I categorically deny that there was any troop movement toward the border with Benin."

Please pray for peace and righteousness in Burkina. Thank you.

Tags: burkina faso africa benin burkina conflict cote d'ivoire

Posted by Keith at 10:31 AM

December 24, 2005

So the Baggies have taken the Burkina Faso national team captain, Badou Kere, on trial, with a view to signing him in January!

Now I appreciate that Burkina Faso and West Bromwich Albion FC (aka the Baggies) may both seem obscure to many of you. Yet all the more reason for my excitement at this bringing together of two of my passions! I may even know his family. Maybe I should offer my services to help Badou's cross-cultural adaptation...

The only other moment I remember of convergence between Baggiedom and Burkina was when one of the Baggies' most famous supporters, the somewhat racey tv comedian, Frank Skinner, came to visit us in Gorom-Gorom. A story for another day, perhaps...

In the meantime, we have to try and beat Man Utd at Old Trafford on Monday...

Tags: burkina faso africa football burkina soccer baggies west bromwich albion badou kere frank skinner

Posted by Keith at 09:14 AM

December 03, 2005

As you know Thursday was World AIDS Day. The number of people in the world living with HIV is at its highest ever (an estimated 40.3m people currently living with the virus across the world, with almost 5m infected in 2005). Two thirds of the people living with HIV - 25.8m - are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Yet in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world the AIDS rate has fallen. HIV prevalence is currently about 4% in the country as a whole. But infection rates among pregnant women living in urban areas, were down to 2.3 percent in 2004 from 4.2 percent in 2001.

Continue reading "AIDS rate drops in Burkina"

Posted by Keith at 10:13 AM

November 22, 2005

I loved this bush-taxi burger found in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso by Tafirkhoo.

Looking round this guy's site, there are a few interesting stories of life in Burkina from someone working with an NGO in the capital. There is also a photo of my old motorbike on the road to Djibo, and some of the guys out on their bikes in the sand dunes at Oursi, just north of Gorom-Gorom.

On his site I also found this appropriate quote, which I hadn't heard before:

"I am neither a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, and I work for a non-profit organisation..."

Posted by Keith at 08:01 AM

November 21, 2005

As expected, Blaise Compaore, the incumbent president of Burkina Faso, won the latest elections by a huge majority, with about 80% of the vote.

This is his third electoral win, although previous elections, in 1991 and 1996, were virtually unopposed. This time round, the opposition were too divided to mount a serious challenge.

Tags: burkina faso africa elections burkina blaise compaore

Posted by Keith at 04:32 PM

November 14, 2005

Burkina Faso is at the polls for the presidential elections.

The likely results seem in little doubt, with current president Blaise Compaore certain to win in spite of controversy over procedure.

Importantly, things seem to be going peacefully, but continue to pray, please.

More information on Burkina here, and on the elections here

Thank you.

Tags: burkina faso africa elections burkina

Posted by Keith at 02:44 PM

September 01, 2005

* Herders hit the hardest
* Report from on the ground
* Gorom-Gorom
* Tear Fund and Christian Aid in Burkina

Herders hit the hardest
I have noticed that in the TV and other reports on the crisis in Niger, there were a lot of Fulani. The BBC notes that this is because those who depend on animals have been worst affected by the food crisis throughout the Sahel.

"Millet prices [per 100kg bag] have shot up from 10,000 CFA francs ($18) to 25,000 CFA francs ($45) and animal prices have collapsed. This double whammy has hit the Fulani herders of the region hard. They are fast running out of animals to sell. Herds of 300 have dwindled to 20, either dead from hunger, or sold for a pittance in the struggle to raise money for millet, the staple crop."

"Somebody has got to resolve the problem of mounting food prices and falling animal prices in the long term."

Report from on the ground
Steve writes from on the ground in Djibo in the north of Burkina. Over the last few weeks, there has been a gradual move there from suffering to hope, as the rains continue, and the first handfuls of food are taken in the lead-up to the harvest. It looks like this year the harvest should be good - if the locusts keep away.

Read about it here: "It is very difficult to measure hunger. If you come to Djibo and say 'Hands up if you're hungry', the whole town (including the mayor) will put their hands up. And it is true that everyone (except the mayor) is looking thin these days. When I returned last week from ten days in Ouagadougou, I did a double-take at how emaciated some of my friends had become."

And here: "Mawna Belko sighs. 'God be praised,' he says. 'If on the day the babbatti came last year you had told us that we would still be drinking tea in August, we would not have believed you.'

Babbatti.. The word has never been far from our lips since 27th September last year when the pink cloud came from the north. At first people thought it was an approaching dust storm, but then the cloud turned into millions of tiny dots, pink and flickering and strangely beautiful. The dots swarmed towards the fields and began to dive, and for an hour the air was thick with legs, wings and mandibles. The babbatti ate everything and left.

Now rainy season is here again, and the fields are again filled with ranks of almost-millet. Everyone knows how precious the crop is, and how precarious. One month to go, and then the millet can be harvested. A repeat of last year's locust invasion would be catastrophic."

And here: "Yesterday I started harvesting the corn in my back yard. All over Djibo people are doing the same - they are taking corn to each other as gifts and will eat it until the main millet harvest."

Gorom-Gorom
Gorom-Gorom is typically a bit behind the rest of the country, and seems to be still in need of some food aid through to the harvest in October.

I have not been able to contact the pastor there recently, but there was a problem with transporting the food aid up to Gorom because the roads were unpassable. As soon as I hear something more, I will post it here.

Tear Fund and Christian Aid in Burkina
Both Tear Fund and Christian Aid have been working in Burkina Faso through their partners there. As well as responding to the immediate needs of the food crisis, they are working on long-term development to improve food security, through cereal banks, personnel training for effective distribution, improved land use etc.

Tags: burkina faso africa aid burkina fulani food crisis

Posted by Keith at 05:00 PM

August 11, 2005

The Aga Khan recently visited Burkina Faso. The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the Nizari sect of the Ismaili branch of Shi'a Islam.

He came to Burkina to co-launch a Micro-credit Agency with President Blaise Compaoré. The idea is to engage the mainstream banking sector in small business loans to the poor, in line with the UN international year of micro-finance. Apparently the Aga Khan group holds majority shares in the Comoe National Sugar Factory at Banfora, and the Fasoplast plastics factory in Bobo-Dioulasso, and has for several years headed the national airline, Air Burkina.

Now, I wonder if there is a role for Christian businesses to use their skills and profits to help poor countries in similar ways, developing micro-enterprise etc, or whether it should just be left to Muslims...

Tags: burkina faso africa aid burkina micro-credit business

Posted by Keith at 06:48 PM

July 28, 2005

* Food Aid
* Malaria
* Railway to Ghana?
* Cotton

Food Aid
I phoned the pastor in Gorom-Gorom (using Skype)the other day to find out what progress is being made with the food aid we are providing. The main problem at the moment is that the rains have washed out the road, which makes transport extremely difficult. We are obviously happy that the rains are good - it offers hope for this year's harvest - but it does cause problems. Options are being examined for other possibilities.

The UN says that half a million people needed food aid in the northern part of the country. "According to an evaluation mission conducted in June in areas of particular concern, 11% of children aged one to five years suffered from moderate malnutrition, while 6% suffered from acute malnutrition." The U.N. appeal for $196 million for 2005 for Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania has received just 39 percent of the requested funds so far.

Continue reading "News from Burkina"

Posted by Keith at 11:07 AM

July 16, 2005

* Arms.
* AIDS.
* Women's Rights
* A tragic story

Continue reading "Recent stuff from Burkina Faso"

Posted by Keith at 10:09 AM

July 11, 2005

Food Aid
The money we have sent out for food aid has arrived. This is following the failure of last year's harvest due to a locust swarm as well as bad rains. The food aid should be ready for distribution very soon. This is a key time, when people need food for energy to work the fields. Please pray for good rains through to September. One problem with the rains is that they wash away the roads by which the food aid has to come. Please pray for this aid that it arrives without problem, that it helps many people, and that it brings honour to the name of Christ.

Steve has also been distributing seed for people to plant. Many people had eaten the seed they had kept for planting because of the food shortages.

Burkina and the G8
Burkina is one of the 18 countries to benefit from the debt cancellation arranged by finance ministers in the lead-up to the G8 summit. The lack of progress in dealing with rich country agricultural subsidies, such as cotton and rice, is a concern. These harm Burkina's economy and the lives of many people there. However, George Bush's apparent readiness to deal with them may open possibilities for the WTO in December.

Burkina benefits from the Millenium Challenge Corporation
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has approved up to $12.9 million for a program to help Burkina Faso improve primary-education completion rates for girls. MCC said: "MCC congratulates the people and government of Burkina Faso for their innovative program to increase primary education rates among girls." The program will fund construction of schools and teacher incentives in 10 provinces with the lowest girls' primary education completion rates.

The Threshold Program is designed to assist countries that are on the "threshold," of Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) eligibility. If such countries make reforms as stipulated by MCA, they might eventually qualify for MCA assistance.

Tags: burkina faso poverty aid africa burkina

Posted by Keith at 04:38 PM

June 28, 2005

Reuters reports that the government of Burkina Faso is distributing more food aid, but says that much more will be needed over the coming months to prevent famine.

This current government distribution will be 5000 tonnes. Residents there will be able to buy a 100 kg bag of subsidised grain for 5,500 CFA (US $11), just over a quarter of the current market price of around 20,000 CFA (US $40).

The government will probably have to sell a total of 100,000 tonnes of grain at knock-down prices to vulnerable population groups before the next harvest begins in September. Such an operation would cost about US $4 million, a big cost for the third poorest country in the world.

Oudalan, the area around Gorom-Gorom where I lived for over 10 years, and where we will be doing our own food aid distribution, was the hardest hit region of the country. It lost over 90% of its harvest through a devastating combination of locusts and drought.

Posted by Keith at 08:13 AM

June 23, 2005

The latest report from Relief Web says:
"The drought and locust invasion of 2004 also had an impact on Northern areas of Burkina Faso with an official estimate of some 500,000 people in need of food assistance."

"In late 2004, the Government initiated a three step emergency operation of 1.162 billion CFA (US$ 2.2 million) to assist populations in 15 provinces affected by locust and drought. This operation is expected to continue until the next harvest in October 2005. ...(Many organisations and NGO's) are now involved in food distribution to most vulnerable people; sale of cereals at subsidised prices; securing livestock; and the sale of seeds."

This is what we are responding to with our food aid.

Posted by Keith at 08:52 AM

June 22, 2005

Thank you to those who have given for the famine relief for the north of Burkina Faso. Today £2187 has been forwarded, so hopefully that will soon be making a big difference in the lives of families affected by the loss of last year's harvest.

The grain distribution will be carried out by the local pastor of the church there. He is a mature, faithful, and dependable man, who has handled such sums for me before. I will keep you informed as things progress.

We will continue to run an ongoing fund for emergency aid, so if you still wish to give, the money will be sent out as needed. Go here for details.

Thank you again.

Posted by Keith at 02:51 PM

June 15, 2005

So, Paul Wolfowitz, head of the World Bank, has been to Burkina Faso.

And he has said that the key to helping Africa's poor cotton growers is to cut the subsidies paid to U.S. and European agriculture producers. Great stuff.

Reuters reports: "On a tour of a cotton-processing factory in Burkina Faso, Wolfowitz said the World Bank would have a "strong voice" at the Doha trade talks to make a case for wealthy nations to reduce agricultural subsidies worldwide.

The subsidies cut into revenues of impoverished countries like Burkina Faso, one of Africa's biggest cotton growers...

Developing countries are pushed out of the market by the subsidies rich nations pay their cotton farmers. They argue the huge subsidies to U.S. cotton producers - which at $4 billion are larger than the whole Burkina Faso economy - are the cause of a collapse in cotton prices. America's cotton subsidies were declared illegal earlier this year.

"The key to tackling the problem of cotton subsidies, which obviously hurts farmers here in Burkina Faso and in other poor countries ... is to tackle agricultural subsidies across the board (in the Doha trade round)," Wolfowitz said.

The World Bank estimates that cotton subsidies in the United States and Europe are cutting into the profits of seven West African producing countries by about $250 million a year. Burkina is estimated to have lost $22m this year as a result of the subsidies.

Wolfowitz was speaking after a tour of a cotton-processing factory in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in Burkina. It is encouraging to hear him acknowledging the trade injustice with agricultural subsidies that benefit the rich at the expense of the poor. Burkina Faso, third poorest country in the world, is a typical example of this. It has a good cotton industry - it is now West and Central Africa's leading cotton producer. About 4 million of its population of 11 million depend on cotton for a livelihood. But this is being undermined by rich country subsidies.

Let us pray for justice in trade to benefit the poor, and for G8 leaders to tackle the issue when they meet together in July.

Posted by Keith at 10:57 AM

June 05, 2005

Some news you may have missed: After leading 1-0, Burkina Faso finally lost 2-1 to Ghana in the World Cup qualifying rounds. With only three matches left, this pretty much seals the fate of the national team - called "Les Etalons" (the Stallions) - for both the 2006 World Cup and the 2006 African Nations Cup.

Ah, well, there's always 2010...

Posted by Keith at 07:20 PM

May 12, 2005

Food shortages and accompanying poverty and malnutrition are getting worse in the north of Burkina Faso according to a report by the FAO.

This is due to the impact of last year's locust swarm, which destroyed 90% of the harvest in the north of Burkina Faso. This was made worse by the problems in the Ivory Coast, which has caused the flight of many Burkinabes who had been working there and sending money back home to Burkina.

"Millet prices continue to climb, while livestock prices have been falling, the agency said. The conditions for livestock production are deteriorating due to scarce pasture and water resources. The movement of animals in search of water and feed has already led to local conflicts...Severe child malnutrition is increasing rapidly." Our area is a Fulani area, where cattle are the heart of the culture and economy, so people are very hard hit.

I had a phone call from Burkina the other day, from one of my Fulani friends in Gorom-Gorom. It was lovely to hear from them, but they also confirmed that the situation is bad there. People particularly need additional food aid for the upcoming lean season, livestock feed, and seeds and other farming inputs for the next growing season. FAO is appealing for $11.4 million to provide agricultural inputs and assist pastoralists in the affected countries.

Food Aid
I want to try and raise a few thousand pounds for aid specifically for the area around where I was living. This will be done throught the local church there. If you can help, please send cheques (marked on the back "Gorom-Gorom famine relief in Burkina Faso") to World Horizons, at one of the following addresses:
World Horizons, North Dock, Llanelli, Carms SA15 2LF, UK
World Horizons, PO Box 17721, Richmond, VA 23226, USA

Steve and I did distribute over £10 000 of aid across the north of Burkina at the start of the year, in liaison with the World Food Programme. But it was just a drop in the ocean, and we are now coming up to the hardest time of the year - when people have used up any resources, but need the extra energy for working the fields. Thanks for anything you can do.

God bless you.

Posted by Keith at 11:54 AM

May 07, 2005

It's May, the hottest month in Gorom-Gorom.

The temperature has been up to about 45C (113F) in the shade so far, and will reach close to 50C (122F) before the end of the month. At night, you sleep outside, with only a pair of shorts between you and the stars. But still the temperature leaves you sweating through the night. You wish you could unbutton your skin and climb out of that, too.

There are many challenges to overcome in taking the gospel to the needy and unreached of the 10-40 widow: spiritual opposition, physical hardship, discouragement, our own apathy... The heat is one more draining element in the battle. It saps the strength and wilts good intention. It acts also as a metaphor of both the spiritual need and the spiritual opposition that we, the church face, as we wimp out of the challenge to take the good news of Jesus to the difficult places on earth.

Please pray for my colleague Steve, as he perseveres in the ministry in Burkina, seeking to bring life to the Fulani. And pray for an outpouring of God's Spirit - both upon the Fulani, and upon the church He sends into all the world.

Now, I don't write poetry.
However...
This is a sort of a poem I wrote a couple of years ago during the hot season. I was sitting sweating in the shade of a mat shelter. It was too hot to do anything, and too hot to do nothing. And so I put my feelings down on paper. It's called: It's turned out sunny again...

Continue reading "It's turned out sunny again (a poem)"

Posted by Keith at 12:33 PM

March 31, 2005

Following up on the FESPACO film festival, the BBC has a couple of interesting articles:

Hotter than Hollywood is a half-hour radio programme about FESPACO, cinema in Burkina, the complexes of the cotton industry, and a perspective on the political situation of Burkina, including an interview with the president, Blaise Compaore.

And Life in Burkina Faso gives a few photos as a background to the radio programme.

Posted by Keith at 05:51 PM

February 25, 2005

You might not have heard of it, but Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso is the African capital of Cinema. And starting tomorrow is Africa's biggest film festival, the biennial FESPACO festival, with over 200 African films showing.

It is always hard for African filmmakers to get their movies made, let alone for them to be able to compete on the international stage, because of a lack of money. So it is good that there are some African films currently in the spotlight, such as “Hotel Rwanda”. This is the story of a real-life hotel manager who saved hundreds of lives during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. The film has been nominated for three Oscars.

There is also a lack of technical expertise for film-making in Africa. Now, Burkinabe Gaston Kabore, who won Fespaco’s top prize in 1997 for “Buud Yam”, has just started a film school, to try and foster technical excellence. It is in Ouagadougou, and is called Imagine after the John Lennon song.

Continue reading "John Lennon and the Ouagadougou Film Festival"

Posted by Keith at 01:03 PM

February 21, 2005

How can the third poorest country in the world take in 365 000 refugees over two years, and no-one even notice?

By the way, this is not a rhetorical question. It has an unusual answer. What do you think? How can it happen?

Continue reading "Refugee crisis in Burkina"

Posted by Keith at 08:28 AM

February 18, 2005

My article I love Africa has just been posted on the BBC website!

Posted by Keith at 10:53 AM

February 11, 2005

The BBC has been doing a series on their website on "why I love Africa." Here are some of the things I love about Africa:

I love the beauty of the vast starry sky and the stillness of the night;
And I love the noise and colour of vibrant local markets, where meeting friends and sharing in the life of the community are more important than simply making profit.

I love sitting on mats under the acacias, drinking tea with Fulani among the cows;
And I love riding my motorbike across the sand dunes, through the river beds, and past villages where children run out and wave.

I love sleeping outside, gazing up at God's handiwork as I drop off to sleep;
And I love sitting inside with the door open when the rains finally come, watching silently with friends the pounding of water on the earth.

I love the sense of awe when a sandstorm blows up;
And I love the joy and relief when the harvest is safely in.

I love that there is always time to talk, that people are more important than the day's programme;
And I love it that God is central to everyday life, and a part of normal conversation.

I love the generosity, that when you arrive at meal time, you are invited to sit round the bowl and share whatever food there is;
And I love the hospitality, that when you arrive in the evening you are invited to stay the night, and a mat is laid out for you.

I love the sense of community - that when you go into a neighbour's yard, you have no idea how many of the dozens of laughing children there actually belong to that set of parents;
And I love it that family is important, and that the elderly are respected and taken care of.

I love it that when you arrive somewhere, you don't do anything until you have properly greeted everyone;
And I love it that when you leave, you are always sent on your way with the blessing of God.

And here are some of the things Steve loves about Africa.
What about you? Have you ever been to Africa? And what did you love about it?

Posted by Keith at 09:16 AM

January 11, 2005

Following his visit to the World Food Programme in Ouagadougou, Steve has just written to say that the grain distribution will be going ahead at the end of this month. The food aid, in response to the disaster caused by the locust invasion which destroyed this year's harvest in the north of Burkina will be distributed through school canteens.

Posted by Keith at 10:42 PM