Stella Schaller (MDEV ‘16), working for a Berlin-based consulting company, covered the crisis in a short film
The state of emergency in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon continues – residents around Lake Chad struggle with extreme food insecurity and are severely impacted by violence and terrorist attacks. The crisis is often cited as a living example of the security threats climate change is posing, but in fact many pressures interact to create a perfect storm of risks.
Alumna Stella Schaller is a Research Analyst working at adelphi on the topic of climate diplomacy. She is supporting the development of innovative public diplomacy instruments such as new information and dialogue formats for foreign policy actors. She also oversees the Environment, Conflict and Cooperation (ECC) knowledge platform. She covered the crisis in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon in a new short film that was released at the occasion of the UN Security Council debate on Lake Chad. It investigates the root causes of the humanitarian disaster, the role of the environment, and possible entry points to address fragility in the region and beyond.
About 17 million people battle for their existence in the Lake Chad basin, many of which have been forced to leave their homes or are isolated in remote areas. The number of children suffering from acute malnutrition has risen to 800,000. Although international donors pledged $672m in February, the famine and humanitarian misery continues.
The recent resurgence of the jihadist group known as Boko Haram in the region has left at least 381 civilians dead after a series of suicide bombings and attacks since April 2017, Amnesty International announced in September of this year. The insurgencies have been ongoing for years, forcing farmers to leave their lands and interrupting essential economic activities.
The security challenges are daunting, but much of the pledged funding remains unspent and does not yet reach the most vulnerable. Given the complexities of the situation, more attention is required to understand how to respond and what to prioritize.
As vegetation and water seem to be disappearing, increased international attention is given to climate change, and the impact of a degrading environment on migration and conflict.
The 10-minute film investigates root causes for widespread misery and conflicts. It features interviews with local experts on Lake Chad, peacebuilders and representatives of international organizations, such as the Security Council and the World Food Programme.