UN Development Program: Fighting Hunger with Tax Officials

The escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring African countries presents a complex challenge, according to Alexander De Croo, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). He notes that rumors and opinions cloud the reality on the ground, making accurate assessment difficult.

De Croo explains that health services in many villages have been scaled back significantly due to unprecedented cuts in development programs. This reduction in presence hinders the UNDP's ability to monitor the pandemic's spread in rural areas. He dismisses the notion that distant crises pose no threat, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as proof of global interconnectedness.

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Our geographical location no longer protects us. Think of the Covid pandemic. The world is so interconnected that no one can say: 'I am wealthy and so far away that nothing can happen to me.'

While current scientific information suggests no reason for widespread panic regarding Ebola, De Croo warns that further withdrawal from infection control and basic healthcare could increase global vulnerability. He emphasizes that cutting development spending is not harmless.

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If we continue to withdraw from infection control and basic healthcare, our own vulnerability will also increase. It is not harmless to cut development spending.

Reflecting on a German diplomat's observation about Western nations withdrawing personnel, De Croo acknowledges that the UNDP strives to keep staff in affected countries unless their safety is compromised. He notes that international organizations previously had greater capacity to deploy experts to crisis zones.

Addressing concerns about a US plan for an Ebola quarantine station exclusively for Americans in Kenya, De Croo avoids judgment on the specific case. However, he observes a shift in development policy where self-interest is stated more openly, diminishing the weight of humanitarianism. He praises Germany as a country that still considers both aspects, despite its own funding cuts, remaining a major donor for the UNDP.

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Self-interest is stated more openly today, and humanitarianism no longer carries the same weight. But fortunately, there are many countries that still keep both sides in view. Germany is one of them.