The world of Tzu Chi October 2020 (Vol.127)

2020 • 10 06 eature E very child is skinny to the bones, with emptiness in their eyes and unusually large bellies. This is the image of malnutrition in African children and the general impression of Africa. However, did you know that someAfrican countries, like South Africa, are categorized as “upper-middle-income economies” by the World Bank? Africa, the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia, has 56 countries 1 and a population of over 1.3 billion. Richlyendowedwithnatural andmineral resources, among them, diamond mining, which attracts armed conflicts reminiscent of the 2006 famous movie ‘Blood Diamond’, Africa is a land of treasures, starvation aside. Between late 19th and early 20th century, about 95% of African were colonized, leaving only Ethiopia and Liberia independent. Colonized states in Africa began gaining independence since 1947, with Mozambique freeing itself from Portugal in 1975. Mozambique, located in south-eastern Africa, and facing the Indian Ocean, has a 2,700 km coastline. With a population of 30 million, its average earning per capita per day is only US$3 (about RM13). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) once categorized it as the third-poorest country in the world. Surprisingly, the price for an iPhone X is costlier than that in Malaysia! Civil wars weaken the country Mozambicans are largely dependent on agriculture and fishery for their livelihood. The three geographically strategic ports, namely, Nacala City in the north, Beira City in the centre and Maputo City in the south, are complemented by regional logistic hubs serving the neighbouring landlocked countries, providing opportunities for economic activities. Regrettably, like many African countries, Mozambique’s economy has suffered by the never-ending civil wars since independence. In 2019, Mozambique was struck by devastating cyclones – Idai and Kenneth, resulting in more than 100,000 displaced people, with hundreds of thousands more still rebuilding their homes. Drought had also seriously affected the southern region, while the unstable national security in the north further aggravated the situation, resulting in more than 250,000 people being displaced. The tropical cyclones caused heavy loss of life and damage to the economy. To worsen matters, the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out early this year put additional pressure on local medical resources and socio-economic conditions. The poorest in Mozambique is the most affected. Right after the aftermath of the cyclones, Mozambique Tzu Chi volunteers mobilized immediately to conduct damage assessments and relief efforts. In March 2019, volunteers from the capital city of Maputo, were divided into two groups, with local volunteer Dino Foi flying to Beira, capital of Sofala Province, to conduct disaster assessment, while the other group headed north, an arduous journey of more than 1,200 km, to transport rice and important daily necessities to survivors. The two-month emergency relief ended with four free clinic sessions provided by doctors from Taiwan, USA, Malaysia and Australia, marking a heart-warming end to the disaster. However, Tzu Chi’s relief programme in Mozambique entered into the medium- to