From scenario to mounting risks: COVID-19’s perils for development and supply security in the Sahel

Abstract

The African Sahel countries are inherently fragile, environmentally insecure and economically weak. This paper underscores the compounded impacts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic on resource supply security and, hence, the long-term development of the region. It outlines the Sahel-specific COVID-19 scenario by firstly highlighting the underlying vulnerabilities and later linking the health sector outcomes to increased political instability and environmental insecurity, particularly the deterioration of food security. In this sense, this paper shows from a region-wide perspective how COVID-19 in the Sahel is associated with enlarged sociopolitical developmental perils. Lower remittance sent by expatriates, violent conflicts, increased cross-border terrorism and migration, discriminant mobility restrictions of people and goods, weak national healthcare infrastructures, bottlenecks in international aid, pressures on the education system and recent climate extremes are some revealing examples of aggravators of the impacts on the supply of vital resources, such as food. This paper also shows the importance of considering the close interlinks between health, food and political stability in the Sahel. There is a paramount need for more comprehensive approaches linking human health to other sectors, and for re-considering local sustainable agriculture. To avoid prolonged or recurrent humanitarian crises, the Sahel countries need to strengthen response capacities through public sector-led responses. Examples of these responses include reinforced national disaster programs for the vulnerable, support to sustainable agriculture and food markets, improved performance and communication of public sector relief, state-based cooperation, building of regional alliances and peacemaking efforts.

Caught off guard and beaten: The Ukraine war and food security in the Middle East

“…At the same time, multilateral efforts such as the BSGI have eased some of the pressure from this crisis in some highly vulnerable countries. In the long run, the Ukraine war invokes some of the lessons from the COVID-19 crisis regarding the need for special aid programs, fewer trade restrictions, and more sustainable and resilient local agriculture ( 27 , 28 , 91 ). At the same time, with the Middle East unlikely and undesiring (due to impacts on water) to achieve self-sufficiency, it is important to invest in strategic storage and the strengthening of the supply chain through (regional) cooperation (e.g., on trade or aid) ( 29 , 30 ).…”

“…(4) Baseline vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic: In some Middle Eastern countries such as Tunisia and Lebanon, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the states' capacity to weather the current crisis, either due to reduced state revenues or aggravated food insecurities (47,62). In other countries, evidence exists of indirect Al-Saidi 10.3389/fnut.2023.983346 impacts through reduced yield (e.g., Egypt) (55), or the ramifications of regional political instability due to COVID-19; e.g., Sudan (27).…”

“…COVID-19 has resulted in serious disruptions to the food value chain, with grain export restrictions during the pandemic, together with locusts destroying crops and causing price hikes, and food insecurity across many regions including parts of the Middle East ( 26 ). Countries located in the Sahel region have been particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, with COVID-19 resulting in weakened food sectors ( 27 ). COVID-19 has forced a re-evaluation of the water–food–trade link within the water–energy–food nexus, and reignited debates regarding self-sufficiency and the expansion of the local food production, even in arid regions ( 28 ).…”

Digital-Era Resilience: Navigating Logistics and Supply Chain Operations after COVID-19

“…Among these challenges, the spotlight on sustainability and resilience prompts strategic reflection, emphasizes the importance of risk management, and gathers valuable lessons for future preparedness. Henceforth, this philosophy is based on the supply chain issue that has been recently documented in the literature [24][25][26][27] and tabulated as follows (Table 1): Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a profound impact on supply chains, exacerbating poverty in underdeveloped countries and fostering challenges like malnutrition [28]. Limited resources and opportunities in these regions contribute to widespread malnutrition, hindering individual and social progress [29].…”

Repercusión de la pandemia sobre la seguridad alimentaria mundial

“…Epidemias como la del Ébola, el Síndrome Respiratorio Agudo Severo (SARS) y el Síndrome Respiratorio del Medio Oriente (MERS) han tenido impactos negativos en la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, especialmente para los niños, las mujeres, los ancianos y los grupos desfavorecidos, incluidos los pobres (James et al, 2021(James et al, , p.1854. Para las regiones vulnerables que ya enfrentan hambre u otras crisis (como las langostas del desierto en el Cuerno de África o la inseguridad en el Sahel), los Estados que dependen en gran medida de las importaciones de alimentos se han visto especialmente afectados por la pandemia a este respecto (Al-Saidi et al, 2022).…”