The impact of COVID-19 in Tanzania
Despite the global reach of ‘Korona,’ (as it’s known locally), so far we are pleasantly surprised that the health impact has seemingly been negligible among the hunter-gatherer and pastoral communities we work with – the Hadza, Akie, Maasai and Datoga.
"The health impact has seemingly been negligible among the hunter-gatherer and pastoral communities we work with."
We don't really know why (less pollution, diverse microbiome?) and of course the impact may increase in the future, but the massive and pervasive 'storm' that was predicted and feared does not seem to have hit.
"Communities you’ve supported . . . are, as a result more resilient in the face of these economic perturbations."
But the impacts of ‘Korona’ are certainly being felt on the financial side. The financial impacts due to a general economic slow down and an abrupt cessation of tourism continues to adversely affect many, especially in the northern areas where we work and where tourism is a major economic driver.
However, what is patently clear is that the communities you’ve supported to secure land and who are managing their natural resource base, are as a result more resilient in the face of these economic perturbations. One example are those Hadza who reside in heavily visited tourist areas and are normally dependent on tourism revenue.
They have disappeared into the ‘woodwork’ and are relying on their traditional life skills as hunter-gatherers. The ability to do this is, of course, thanks to having secure land to turn to and depend on.
"Through the difficulties of this pandemic, Tanzania has been blessed with abundant rainfall . . . so that the land and rural folk are doing well."
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