The Sahelian Drought: No Victory for Anyone

In a recent article "The Sahelian Drought: No Victory for Western Aid,"' Nicholas Wade suggests that the current crisis in the Sahel may prove to be a preview of events to come in other parts of the world. In these times of climactic upheaval, population expansion, and economic dislocation this is all too likely to prove true. Wade's article raises important and timely questions. Because critical choices with respect to the drought region must be made now, the comments which follow give an historical perspective to the current drought so that past experiences, successes and failures, will not go unheeded. Such discussion is intended to create a dialogue on important questions, the answers to which are a matter of life and death to those who inhabit desert border areas throu '`out the world as well as in sub-Saharan Africa.