By Mostafa Sayyadi & Michael J. Provitera
When the sun comes up, the darkness gets bright. We see this nightmare almost constantly. Crises leave a dull que that appears in nightmares that carry throughout the day. People often feel that they are thirsty and run down, with no water to drink, and no one to help but onlookers in despair. Many countries are looking to save themselves from this crisis while slight problems surface daily in the most developed countries. Perhaps the world is getting closer to realizing this dream.
A few months ago, alarming news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spread through official news agencies. Many people in the Middle East and Africa were watching this great crisis with concern for their own states. A crisis that may be a terrible spark for much bigger crises such as hunger and war over available resources was not on their mind at first. For example, while the Egyptian government has said it has wheat reserves for the next four months only, the Egyptian people are wondering what to need to do next. The dread of an imminent nuclear war may satisfy a small population in these countries. The last resort is unwelcomed by any means. Without help from developed countries, these hungry and frustrated people may never be able to cope. They do not have an airplane to board, nor hope to even hang on to its wheels. An example of what happened to desperate Afghans fleeing the situation is a statement that appears in the minds of many.
At this point, how important are the people of the Middle East and Africa to developed countries? Many of these people are now drowning in a sea of despair and fear of hunger and war. Many of these people have had the chance to immigrate to developed countries. And the large population in the form of the refugee crisis has caused a new crisis in the world called the refugee crisis. And many cannot even leave their families and go to sea. They break down every day for fear of a worse future. War needs to full-stop and humanity crisis donations need to surface. Wasted money on ammunition for what?
Perhaps a decade ago, the emigration of a person from these countries was accompanied by a small farewell party. There was still hope for improvement. And many were hoping to start small businesses in these countries. But now dreams may seem farther away than ever. Many people in these countries are being deprived of their most basic rights every day. Even having the right to breathe clean air is occasionally gone with the dust crisis that has hit the Middle East and Africa more than ever.
The feeling of betrayal and the unjust distribution of wealth and resources have erased the remnants of hope and aspiration. This frustration is growing. And the broad bureaucratic structures are incapable of solving the current problems and the dire consequences of the Ukraine war crisis, of which hunger is perhaps the most important consequence for the Middle East and Africa. And people are ignored in silence. Focusing on the deprived and harmed is a natural process but not focusing on those being afflicted by the war in Ukraine is worse. Play by play each day we see the news. Yet, what good does this do for the starving and devastated bystanders of this war?
The people of the Middle East and Africa are drowning in fear of the future. More developed countries with smarter policies could help the Middle East and Africa battle the super-challenge of climate change and hungry. Through smarter and more targeted collaborations, especially in the area of climate change crisis, with the Middle Eastern and African universities and educational and scientific assistance to these universities, the Middle East and Africa could highly improve. This improvement may place a smile on the hungry people affected by the Ukraine war. Thus, selling military ammunition, war and even sanctions should be replaced by scientific collaborations and diplomacy. And this even won’t let the next migration crisis be created.
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