Sahelian drought and its demographic implications

HE COMPARED THIS REGION WITH THE CONDITIONS IN ETHIOPIA, SUDAN, DRIER PARTS OF CAMEROON, THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, KENYA AND TANZANIA. THE AUTHOR REPORTS ON THE REGION OF THE DROUGHT, THE DEMOGRAPHIC CONSEQUENCES, THE NOMADIC PEOPLE OF THE AREA, THE REACTION TO THE 1970-74 DROUGHT, AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. HE EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH THE INABILITY OF DEMOGRAPHERS TO REACT QUICKLY TO A CRISIS AND FEELS THAT MEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL CONCLUSIONS ARE MADE WITH INADEQUATE OR INAPPROPRIATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. HE CONCLUDES THAT THE DROUGHT HAD NO SEVERE EFFECT ON POPULATION GROWTH. THERE IS A DISCUSSION OF MEDIUM-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND LONG TERM ASSISTANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING THESE COUNTRIES PREPARE FOR DRIER YEARS. SAVING WEALTH FROM GOOD YEARS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BAD ONES IS A FUNCTION OF MODERNIZATION -- OF MONETIZATION AND OF INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENTAL SAVINGS AND INSURANCE SCHEMES. SO TOO IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEM OF THE MEDIUM TERM REDUCTION OF MORTALITY AND THE LONG TERM REDUCTION OF FERTILITY.