AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS, AND THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)

AN APPEAL

FOR EMERGENCY FOOD AID

FOR THE PEOPLE OF GUINEA BISSAU

The people of Guinea Bissau are facing starvation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

Guinea Bissau, a small country on the western-most portion of Africa, has a population estimated at 1,957,113, ranking 150th in the world. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Guinea-Bissau's GDP per capita ranks 174th out of 192 nations. The 2019 Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranked Guinea Bissau 178th out of 189 countries. More than two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line on less than $2 per day. Combined life expectancy for men and women is just 48.7 years. The World Food Program USA estimates that 27.6 percent of the country suffers chronic malnutrition. One in seven children still die before reaching the age of 5 and more than a quarter of all children under 5 are stunted.

Guinea-Bissau's poverty and malnutrition are exacerbated by chronic food insecurity. The Proteus Global Food Security Index ranks Guinea Bissau 148th out of 160 countries. The World Food Programme (WFP) national food security assessment conducted in 2013 revealed that only 7% of the population is food secure. Data from the Guinea-Bissau Nutrition and Food Monitoring System show that, in total, 11% of Guinea-Bissau households suffered from food insecurity in 2015. This figure, however, varies by region: in some areas, food insecurity affects about 51% of families. Rice is the staple food product and many Guinean families find it difficult to supplement their diet with other, more nutritious foods. The situation of food insecurity is made even more serious by irregular rains, by the volatility of imported rice prices and by an economy based on non-diversified local cashew production.

The economy of Guinea Bissau depends mainly on agriculture; fish, cashew nuts, and ground nuts are its major exports. Cashews account for about 90% of the country's exports and constitute the main source of income for an estimated two-thirds of the country's households. According the government, around 80% of the rural population work in the cashew harvest.

Guinean economist Aliu Soares Cassama has stated, “Our economy has had a deficit in the trade balance for a long time. In other words, we import more and export less. We know that economic agents do not have purchasing power due to the total paralysis of the State, and this situation will further complicate the economic weakness that the country is experiencing.” The decision to put the entire population in quarantine has led to runaway inflation. There is a food shortage and people can not afford to buy what food there is. The risk of starvation is growing daily for as many as 60% to 70% of the people of Guinea Bissau.

The United States can help save lives

The United States does not currently have an Embassy in Guinea Bissau. Nevertheless, on January 29, 2020 the U.S. Ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, Tulinabo Salama Mushingi attended the launch of the USDA’s Food for Progress regional cashew value chain project, also called the Linking Infrastructure, Finance, and Farms to Cashews (LIFFT-Cashew). The program implementing a $38 million, six-year project in The Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau will enhance the regional cashew value chain to improve the trade of processed cashews in local and international markets. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closing of Guinea Bissau’s ports and delayed the campaign’s starting date. In addition, the government of Guinea Bissau has been forced to delay the 2020-21 reference price launch.

With no food imports or cashew exports, what is needed now, is an emergency airlift of food to prevent mass starvation. Unfortunately, you will not read any media articles about this because Guinea Bissau simply is not on the world’s radar. That is why I, as the President of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA), representing the descendants of Guinea Bissau’s Balanta people brought to America during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, am making this appeal.

From January 10th to the 17th, 2020, I returned to my ancestral homeland and to my Balanta people who are the largest ethnic group in Guinea Bissau. I was the first of my family to do so after nearly 250 years in America. I saw firsthand the richness in spirit of the people of Guinea Bissau and the beauty of their country, which does not match their economic and political condition. So welcoming was Guinea Bissau that government officials agreed to launch a “Decade of Return Initiative” for all African Americans whose ancestors originated in Guinea Bissau. That homecoming celebration was scheduled for May 31 to June 2. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the event, like every other international event, had to be cancelled. Now, the people, the country, needs help.

According to the report Integrated Country Strategy: Guinea Bissau,

“the United States works to enhance security, foster economic growth and trade, bolster democratic institutions, and spread American values. Partnering with the government and the people of Guinea Bissau where possible, the USG can help integrate Guinea Bissau into the greater regional and global economy. . . . The United States has interests in Guinea Bissau despite the country’s small size. . . . In a region susceptible to epidemics, poor public health infrastructure and personnel leave Guinea Bissau vulnerable to emergencies. . . . The lack of a permanent U.S. diplomatic presence in Guinea Bissau constrains the promotion of our interests there. . . . Guinea Bissau is a small country, where small efforts have a big public diplomacy impact. Bissau-Guineans aspire to partnership with the United States and want to see us more engaged. Our public diplomacy efforts build the people-to-people relationships that endure even when official engagement is difficult. . . . To succeed, our policies and actions should 1) strengthen democratic governance and the rule of law, 2) promote economic development, 3) improve the population’s health and educational status and 4) build public awareness of U.S. policy and trust in our partnership. . . .

Broad USG engagement in the health sector with public (Ministry of Health, National Institute of Public Health – INASA) and private (e.g., NGOs, the media) stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels within GoGB would strengthen healthcare delivery and increase GoGB health security capability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats that could severely impact the GB population . . . .”

Now is the hour of need in Guinea Bissau. The people of Guinea Bissau are already doing all that they can. Tadja Fomi (“Avoid Hunger”) is an initiative of volunteer Guinean citizens who have joined together to collect food in order to contribute to reducing the difficulties that vulnerable Guinean families are facing at this time. Melissa Rodrigues who coordinates this “Campaign for Raising Food Goods” has been working with NGOs to map the areas of the most needy. Bu their efforts will not be enough.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, on February 14, BBHAGSIA set up the Balanta B’urassa 2020 Development Program GoFundMe campaign (https://www.gofundme.com/f/balanta-b039urassa-2020-development-program) to support our work in Guinea Bissau. We are now using this campaign to raise funds to be directly transferred to Tadja Fomi. I ask all Americans of goodwill to donate whatever they can. But this, too, will not be enough.

The United States can prevent mass starvation and prove its good intentions by delivering emergency food supplies. I am calling on the United States Congress, especially the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as USAID to take the lead in this effort by sending an airlift of emergency food aid immediately,

Respectfully,

Siphiwe Baleka, Founder

Balanta B'urassa History & Genealogy Society in America

Senior Heritage Ambassador, Director of Research and Development Balanta

United House of Ancestry

balantasociety@gmail.com balantanation@houseofancestry.org

331-452-8360

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