What African countries are doing to help peo ple to eat during Coronavirus lockdown

Africa under Coronavirus lockdown
Africa under Coronavirus lockdown

Coronavirus lockdown consequences are felt in every Africa significant cities. And it is the only more excellent move to stop the spread of the novel pandemic. We have seen countries in the western imposing total lockdowns, a strict restriction where every individual must stay indoors. While the citizens in the west can survive this condition what of Africans? Many Africans under lockdown have appeared on the news crying for help with the basic needs (food) in this time of the restricted movements.

A 25-year old Ugandan citizen, Richard Kabanda, a motorbike taxi driver, is stuck at home due to the lockdown. And he is now worried how he would feed his family.

The taxi driver, who used to earn around 7000 UGX ($2) stopped working after the government banned public transport last month. Richard and many other Ugandan who used to work and make on their daily effort are in extreme conditions due to lack of food and other basics.

“We are going to die because there is nothing we can do. We are going die inside our homes because we will run out of food yet we’ve been told not to leave our homes”

Richard told news reporters in his dwelling house in the slums near to the swamps by Lake Victoria.

Balancing lives and livelihood during the coronavirus lockdown

Richard and other citizens in the local had hopes of receiving benefits from the government food distribution program. However, this has not come to his aid as the government promised to feed its 1.5 million population who are in need. Something he says is normal for a typical African worker in the rural to have access to the state assistance.

African governments, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and other states are now facing a policy challenge. Many hurried in imposing the lockdown measures as the pandemic approached the continent. But they are also aware of the consequences the restrictions are having on the citizens. Some countries are extending lockdown measures. Others are lifting the restrictions in what seems like confusion in bid to restore the economy and at the same time fight the virus.

“Getting the balance right between people’s lives and livelihood is the big trick for poorer countries. If people don’t work, they don’t eat. Ongoing lockdowns are unsustainable in their current forms.”

Said Ronak Gopaldas, a director of the South Africa-based risk management company, Signal Risk.

Jane Barret, an employee of Wiego, an organization that supports women in informal employment, reports that many populations are suffering on the ground.

People depend on the little foods distributed by charities and civil society. But the foods are hardly reaching the people in the rural.

So what are the African governments doing to help feed during these hard times?

Kenya government is doing cash transfer to its needy citizens

Through cash transfer, Inua Jamii, the Kenya government is using this means to give cash payments to more than a million vulnerable people. The category of people benefiting from this scheme includes the elderly, the disabled and orphans. Despite there are other millions who need help, this was a more excellent move that will help. And save those who highly deserves the support.

What is the situation in Uganda?

The Ugandan government so far has not adopted the cash transfer scheme. And the neighbouring countries like Rwanda. And Sudan are in the moment relying on using food distributions to feed the neediest.

But in Uganda, the situation is very different. The Ugandan taxi driver, Mr Richard, said they had not received a food parcel after the government announced the food scheme two weeks ago.

The head authority Mr Musa Ecweru said the government had reached half a million people who had no income. With the social distancing rules, they are going to do door-door delivery which has seemed to delay the process. Promising every vulnerable Ugandans will receive help.

And how about Nigeria?

Nigeria, with over 200 million citizens, ordered lockdown in its business hub, Lagos, the neighbouring state Ogun and the capital Abuja.

Traders in these cities narrate the same experience; there is no opening of shops. The coronavirus lockdown measures have affected their business. And currently, no single penny is getting into their pockets.

The government has a proper plan to feed its citizens during this hard time. President Muhammadu Buhari announced a move which he describes as palliative measures, which will aim at increasing the number of households included in a cash transfer scheme from 2.6 million to 3.6 million. An action which will see every family in most extreme poverty status receive $13 every month.

Summary

Despite the African countries trying their best to stop the spread of the covid-19 at the same time developing measures to deal with the lockdown consequences. The governments need to do a lot and establish enough funds that will be able to feed their significant populations. Or else many Africans will die of hunger and not from the coronavirus.

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