HELP LIBERIA FOUNDATION

HLF President Comments on “Africa Has Been Helped Too Much!”

Posted by Help Liberia Foundation on July 26, 2006

I have always been fascinated by Africa, particularly by its people - Africans, who in spite of their complex problems and incredibly hard life, manage to be so spiritual, cheerful, friendly, determined and resilient, as if they have never had to struggle to survive.

For me, as a European who’s used to a very different living standard, Africans’ optimistic and cheerful attitude towards life is incredible. Interestingly, their nature has helped to develop my appreciation for Africans and my desire to help them in any way I can.

Perhaps, it is this desire that mainly landed me in Help Liberia Foundation, doing my best to help the people of Liberia, especially the children. However, since I started working for Help Liberia, some of my fellow Europeans continue to ask me questions which, I think, say one thing: don’t help Africa; it’s not worth doing it!

I say this because the most dominant questions pose to me go like this: Is it really worth helping Africa? Why are you doing this?”

Some questioners even add: “Africans have received so much money so far, and they are still facing gigantic problems. In fact, why should I donate money for Africa, if I can’t see any progress? Any change for the better?”

At one point, while thinking about how to respond to these questions, I ended up asking myself two related questions: “Can an average man say something different? Should one, who sees no improvement and who has been constantly bombarded by either terrifying news from Africa or reports about huge amounts donated, be willing to help Africa?

Unfortunately, in most instances, the answer is: NO. Millions of people whose picture of Africa is the one created by western media may be discouraged and may direct their help somewhere else. An average individual has no time for going through hundreds of pages of different reports, for comparing statistical data, for “sieving” the information he receives in order to discover what the real truth is. He simply takes things for granted, not analyzing whether the information he receives is true, or not. The average person also refuses to investigate about who might be responsible for the existing state of affairs in Africa.

Frankly, if a person investigated and analyzed the situation objectively, and not with a faultily preconceived and biased idea, the person would soon see that most of what he or she has been fed with actually misrepresent the fact. That’s one reason why I believe that, instead of being mean because of misrepresented stories, it’s worth helping Africa, especially if you help single individuals directly.

I would like to present a few facts. I hope they will help to enlighten the minds of those who constantly have a pessimistic view about Africa, and I hope it will somehow help the average reader to understand why there is relatively little progress in African economy and who, in fact, is responsible for it.

What We Are Shown and Told

An average European sees Africa in three different situations. First, when there is a war, riot, massacre, etc. Second, when there is a natural disaster, usually draught, when people are dying of hunger, or when there is an epidemic. Third, when there is a need to show magnificent nature. African people are shown very rarely, and if it happens, the films give you some idea about tribal life. Almost nothing shows the progress made – the good sides of Africa.

From time to time a white man gets some figures saying how much aid was provided and what has been done. For example, during the G8 summit in Gleneagles, it was announced that aid for Africa would be doubled by 2010, meaning that extra USD25 billion would go to Africa every year. For anyone, for that matter, USD25 billion is an enormous amount, isn’t it?

On December 27, 2005, The Washington Post in an article about the US actions in Darfur writes: “The United States has spent almost $1 billion aiding refugees and displaced persons who might otherwise have died of disease or starvation.” One billion dollars, My God! Can you imagine?

The information that appeared in the Introduction to “The EU Strategy Towards Africa,” published on 12 October 2005, is cited now and again. We read: “In 2003 the development help provided by the EU for Africa reached the amount of 15 billions of Euros.” We hear the word “billions” once more. It comes back, and bangs in our heads over and over again. Billions for Africa…. Billions for Africa… Billions … I could go on cited hundreds of similar examples.

Most of what we are told and shown about Africa is negative. I don’t understand why people do this; perhaps, it is a continuation of the same plan to keep Africa behind. I am not saying that Africa doesn’t have her own problems – corruption, wars, bad government, etc. , but Africa, like other developing countries, is wrongly treated by the rich countries in many important areas.

Development and Humanitarian Aid

No matter how impressive the sums spent on aid can be, they fade away quickly when compared to the donors’ income and expenses on other commodities. Thus, G7 countries belong to the least generous aid donors in the developed world. It’s enough to say that an average income, GNI per capita, in these countries has risen by about $8000, but aid per person has fallen by USD7 (from USD81 per capita in 1990 to USD74 per capita in 2004).

In 2003, military expenditures per capita in G7 countries reached USD927, while ODA per capita was USD74. According to UNDP Development report 2005, “For every $1 invested in development assistance another $10 is spent on military budgets. That ratio rises to 1:13 for the United Kingdom and 1:25 for the US.”

In 2003 the American Congress approved of USD151.1 billion for the war in Iraq. Just compare the amounts spent. Now, think about the additional USD25b pledged during the G8 Summit. If we were to divide the USD25 billion by the number of Africa’s population, it would give USD31.4 per person a year, and that would give USD0.09 per person per day. Interesting, isn’t it?

In spite of huge donations provided by the USA, EU and Great Britain, in May 2005, food rations for people in Darfur had to be lowered by half. At the moment, from the required minimum of 2100 calories per person, people get the equivalent of 1050 calories per person, in cereal, mixed food, oil, beans, sugar, and salt.

According to WFP, the USA gave $188 million for the purchase of the food. It’s only one fifth of the one billion dollars talked about. What was the rest spent on? Where did the balance go? These are the things that the average person doesn’t pay attention to.

The Developed World Policy Towards Africa – a few facts

To improve their economy, many African countries take loans, or let foreign investors invest in the country. To take loans, African governments have to fulfill certain requirements. One of them has been trade liberalization. However, as Christian Aid research proved, it has brought more harm than good.

The research clarified: “Trade Liberalization has cost sub-Saharan Africa $272 billion over the past 20 years. […] It has cost sub-Saharan Africa roughly what it has received in aid. Effectively, this aid did no more than compensate African countries for the loses they sustained by meeting the conditions that were attached to the aid they received” It also contributed to the rise of unemployment and bankruptcy of local small businesses. Have you ever heard of that?

But this is not the only problem that damages the African economy. African countries come across severe harms when trading with developed countries. Exporting some products to a prosperous country market means that an African state has to pay customs fees that are a few times higher than those encountered by rich countries. Needless to say what it leads to.

According to Ms Robinah Nyapengdi of Oxfam Uganda, USD1billion is spent on agricultural subsidies in rich countries everyday. As a result, the same commodities produced in African countries have to be sold for a price that is often lower than the costs of production (e.g. cotton, sugar). At the same time, African countries are forced by the World Bank and other institutions to open their markets to cheap, subsidized products.

Thus, local people have to stop producing certain goods and buy food produced by foreigners, a scheme that is aimed at achieving give-the-aid-money-back to well developed countries. Clever, isn’t it?

Though it may seem strange, investing in Africa is much more profitable than in the developed countries. While it is true that foreign capital helps reduce unemployment and develop infrastructure the foreign investors squeeze billions of profits out of the countries, getting an extremely cheap labor. The working conditions and the system they introduce, in most instances, recall the times of colonialism. Are you surprised?

From My Point of View

While it is true that the world knows perfectly well what should be done, that a lot is being done and that huge amounts of money are donated, it is clear that huge amounts are wasted, or could be used in a better way. Why? Because:

1. There is no concrete long-term, integrated plan that could lead to significant improvement in African economy, education, health service, etc.
2. Assistance is provided sometimes too late and sometimes accidentally.
3. Too much money for assistance remains in the donor countries.
4. Quite often the way to a single individual, that should be helped, is too long.
5. The media create an untrue picture of Africa.
6. The world knows a little, or almost nothing, about Africa’s achievements.

Besides, the goal of the developed countries’ policy towards Africa is to make the highest possible profit. These countries do almost nothing to help African states improve their economy and change the situation for the better, which, in the long run, would heal the situation on the continent. Let’s hope it will soon change for the better.

This is a picture of the situation when we take it realistically. In the midst of all this, PEOPLE, just single human beings, are the most important. So if you give a single dollar to help a sole individual, it may mean that, instead of sentencing him or her to death, you are saving his or her life. The life of these people is in your hands. Do you want to save them or to sentence them to slow death? The answer belongs to you.

Mrs. Anna Dobrowolska, HLF Board President