Since June 24th, I am in Calcutta for InMaLanka and I stay here two months. Although I have not been able to fully discover the city, my first impressions are that Calcutta is a city living at high speed and in the maelstrom of modernity. The West Bengal has indeed two faces. On the one hand, there is this gigantic capital, economic and cultural center, and on the other hand, a bit further, places where efforts for development need to be made. This is the case of the Sundarbans, a region of magroves, 90 km away from the city, in which InMaLanka is working with its Indian partner Mukti. 

My first stay in the Sundarbans was on Sunday, June 26th. With members of Mukti, we went to the village of Purbasridherpur, the birthplace of Sankar Halder, founder of Mukti. To get there, the trip lasted nearly five hours through chaotic roads. There were two steps. First, the Mukti's programm entitled "Book Bank":  55 students received political science, English and Bengalibooks for the next 2 years. This year nearly 4500 children are beneficiaries of the program. 

Then came a meeting with villagers to monitor the program "Lightning has one billion lives". Sixty sunlamps are available in order to prevent their use of kerosene lamps, harmful and responsible for respiratory problems. The villagers approve the system of solar lights. They allow them not only to save money but also to continue domestic work in the evening, which promotes a better division of labor on a daily basis. 

It is very interesting for me to see small improvements everyday have such effects. The next weekend, I will go to Kakdwip and begin my field survey about the medical needs of the population, especially women.

Kolkata, June 27th

Aurélie Bezault

Food insecurity in African countries is a well known issue. The main causes of vulnerability lie in the continuity of climate disruption, high rates of poverty, lack of infrastructure and appropriate policies, not to mention wars and political crises.

Although Madagascar has no real war, but it undeniably suffered from serious problems like all other African countries. The political crisis, that Madagascar endures since two years now, particularly obscures other issues and diverts the attention of the International Community. This year was particularly difficult for the Malagasy population. The drought combined with cyclones have severely affected not less than 53 municipalities. These have subsequently suffered from severe food shortages. The risk remains high whereas neither hurricane seasonnor hunger gap are finished yet.Thesituationis particularlycritical inthesouthern partof the countrywheredroughtandlanddesertificationareendemic problems.

The population, unable to find a solution to climatic and economic vagaries or even eat properly, often ingest plants considered as toxic as the "Raketa", the fruit of a cactus, which can cause serious digestive problems. Population even comes to eat seeds thus making their future even more uncertain. This is the situation in different parts of the island where the uncertainty of survival is the daily bread of the Malagasy people. The political crisis do not benefit to the population. The coup d’état in March 2009 of the current self-proclaimed president of the HTA (high transitional authority), Andry Rajoelina,caused the immediate suspension of all development assistance.

The current situationconfined in many case during in between crops and hurricanes periodsis a seriousproblem andcouldbe transformed soonintoastructuralfood problem. Over 70% of Malagasy live below the poverty line. The highest rate of poverty lies in the south where most people depend on subsistence farming.

Soaring food prices certainly does not help and price control policies have not produced the results promised by politicians. The country is isolated. It suffered from an embarrassing silence and unloading of responsibility difficult to accept. Madagascar is completely frezzed politically and economically. The social situation is tense while the environmental situation is alarming.

Not acting today will have serious consequences for the future.

InMaLanka urges the International Communitytorealizethe politicalinstabilitythat has already lasted sincetwo years. TheWorldBank reportpublishedon March 14^th2011, clearly showsthatthehumanitarian emergency help is notmanagedefficiently. Thus, thepoverty ratehas increased by9% compared to2005despitethe$ 260 millionreleasedin 2010. The resolution of thiscrisisdeservesanothertype ofpolicyof developmentandnotby closingthefundingtapsthat causeisolationanddestructionofthe social network. Corruptionis plaguing theMalagasy administrationand is clearly involved in this disaster and is reinforced by this political transition.Thus, the resultof the corruptionperceptionindex(CPI) in 2010, presentedby TransparencyInternational,isof 2.6which is a decreasecomparedto 2008(3.4).

Mostof public areas are affected by this blight. According to Faly Rabetrano, Director of independent anti-corruption organisation, "the decentralized authority or municipality, the justice, the police and the public services, are the tops five of the most corrupt State agencies"¹. But time is taking its course on the island and the Malagasy people suffers every day from the greedy control of power.

But, for how long?

Fabrizio De Angeli

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InMaLanka thanks the Swiss NGO "SOS pour un monde meilleur" as well as the students of its school whose support has enable the distribution of 846 glasses of milk for Kegalle's orphanage.

To find out news of "SOS pour un monde meilleur" we invite you to join them on their Facebook page http://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/ONG-SOS-pour-un-monde-meilleur/100761849989225

Through InMaLanka, the family Labry,  in Dubai, has visited the orphanage on December 26th.

 They brought to the orphanage 200kg of rice, some tea, sugar, biscuits, bread and sweets, some skirts, t-shirts, 45 pairs of slipers and nearly sixty panties. These purchases were made on their behalf at a local level. They also have brought a bag of games and clothes from Dubai. 

Photo: S.Labry