3.1 Long term effects of migration on the population  (Page 3/3)

 The opposite is true of the country to which these people migrate. Immigrants of this calibre are an asset to their new country.

 Could this be the reason why the population of the USA is so enterprising?

2. Wars and upheavals in the Great Lake area and how conflict and war affect the population of the countries of central Africa

War is the most important event that disrupts populations, and obstructs development.

During the last four decades Africa lost approximately eight million people in violent conflict situations during thirty civil wars. Since the beginning of the nineties of the previous century more than four million people died, 24 million were uprooted in their own countries and 18 million fled across the borders of their country.

The countries of the Great Lakes area were affected the most.

• October 1993: a war broke out in Burundi in which as many as 300 000 people would die during the following ten years. 840 000 citizens of Burundi lived as refugees in neighbouring countries by 2002, mostly in Tanzania. The Tanzanians who experienced a shortage of resources, were not very pleased with the situation.
• 1994: War broke out in Rwanda between the Tutsies and Hutus (the same two ethnic groups who also fought against each other in the neighbouring Burundi). Eventually approximately 500 000 people died in Rwanda before peace was made.
• 1998: Soldiers from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda attacked the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the war that ensued 3,3 million people were killed.

Activity 3:

To do research on the effects of conflict and war on populations in central africa

[lo 1.5]

Research the following and complete:

a) The following lakes of Central Africa are called the Great Lakes because of their size:

b) The states situated in this area are:

Conflict and war in Central Africa are responsible for more than the loss of lives:

• During a state of war or civil war, medical services and drought relief cannot be executed efficiently where the need arises. The result is that famine and disease take a bigger toll than in times of peace!
• Thousands of children are orphaned.
• Children often serve as soldiers.
• Human rights are violated as a matter of course.
• Millions of people end up in refugee camps for years.
• Economies suffer, because funds are used for war purposes instead of development.
• Infrastructures are destroyed.
• Agricultural development comes to a standstill.
• As a consequence of these wars, the biggest future threat to the countries in question is probably the large number of youths who are left without schooling, jobs or any expectations for the future. This is an extremely dangerous situation!

Activity 4:

To give an informed description of the effects of war on the population

[lo 3.4]

• Once war and conflict ends, a country must rescue what is left!

a) Using the above information, take your time to think on these matters. Add your personal insights and describe the population of a country at the end of a twenty year period of armed conflict.

b) If you were the secretary general of the United Nations, what would you do to prevent this type of war (and its consequences) in Africa?

c) You are the minister of population development and education of a country when a twenty year period of war has come to an end. What steps would you take to counter the damaging effects of war on the population to the best of your ability?

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity1:

Old

Young

Activity 2:

a) b

b) c

c) b

d) a

e) b

f) a

g) c

h) a

i) b

Activity 3:

a) Great Lakes: Victoria

Albert

Edward

Kivu

Tanganyika

Malawi

b) Countries in the region: Kenya

Tanzania

Uganda

Burundi

DRC

Activity 4:

a) disrupted families: breadwinner absent, orphans

children who did service as soldiers, cannot be “normal”

people not equipped for the future: few skills or education

b) send a peace task force to the region

try to negotiate a long term political solution

offer development aid: develop resources so that people/countries are not forced to loot and plunder for survival

c) take care of orphans

“re-educate” the child soldiers

allow people to develop various skills

do everything possible to create jobs

supply suitable accommodation (where parental education can take place)