Need for Sustainable Actions

Rains are back in the northern regions of Cameroon, notably in the Far-North Region where a fragile ecological system has regularly let rivers and other waterways overflow their banks.

In their wake are often horrendous tales of strife, including loss of life through drowning with entire harvests of villages swept away by the wild-running water.

All too often, this situation has its origins in human factors, least of which is not the very cavalier manner with which contracts in the building of retention dams are carried out. The Region is, for the most part of the year, exposed to drought, and farmers and stock-breeders have to rely on the few months of the year with heavy rains to carry out their activities as a source of the necessary money for their daily livelihood.

But the numerous rivers in the area have proven to be a source of real danger. Just a few days ago, the Governor of the Region, Augustine Awa Fonka, working in concert with officials of the Civil Protection Department of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation in Yaounde, declared the Maga area in the Mayo Danay Division, a no-go zone and immediately undertook to evacuate the local people to safer grounds. It must be said that the locality is situated downstream the dyke built on River Logone. It provides the badly needed water for agriculture in the same way as it is a vast basin in which fishing is carried out, accounting for virtually all the animal protein needs of the area.

The problem is real. A veritable humanitarian problem is in the offing, especially when one considers the number of people affected and the palliative measures put in place. These are apparently far from properly addressing the urgency the situation begs for. For, example, 350 families of over 4,000 people have been moved from the dyke site because of the fear of bursting of the structure and the devastating consequences that could ensue. Such a disaster could entail the destruction of homes, human and animal life, as well as sweeping away crops. Not forgetting the attendant famine that such an eventuality will bring along.

Just last week, a similar dyke in Bourrha in the Mayo Tsanaga Division in the same Region, gave way, causing untold damage in terms of loss of human life and property. The moment is, therefore, most propitious in ensuring that contracts are only given to those who are aware of the dangers luring all in the face. Contracting authorities must ensure that their actions take into account sustainability. That is, more concern in examining tender files and palliative measures that are durable in time and space. It is better to educate people on the risks of living in dangerous zones. It that way, they can take possession of the real danger and avoid a situation wherein, every year governmental officials are on their heels for the same problem.