The Silent War on Well-Being: Confronting East Sumba’s Pest Crisis Beyond Agriculture to Address Human and Environmental Health.

For over five years, East Sumba has faced a relentless pest infestation, devastating crops and the core of human existence—health, psychological welfare, and social cohesion. This crisis transcends agricultural boundaries, manifesting as a grim humanitarian emergency with life-altering ramifications.

Fair Future advocates for sustainable, human-centric solutions that do not jeopardize people’s and the environment’s health.

The Perilous Path of Pesticide Dependency

Fair Future acknowledges the allure of contact pesticides for immediate pest eradication but underscores severe reservations about their safety and sustainability. These substances permeate skin and mucous membranes, posing acute health risks such as respiratory ailments and debilitating skin conditions. Chronic exposure escalates into life-threatening illnesses like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The economic strain of medical treatments exacerbates an already precarious livelihood for affected communities..

Direct Toll: Human and Animal Lives at Stake

The impact of the crisis is not limited to crops alone; it ripples across the fabric of life in East Sumba. Fair Future’s dedicated medical teams have intervened in hundreds of cases, affecting individuals from infants to the elderly, all displaying conditions directly attributable to pesticide exposure. The symptoms manifest in various distressing forms:

• Gastrointestinal Issues: Abdominal pain and digestive disturbances are frequent complaints, affecting daily life and well-being;
• Respiratory Complications: Individuals, particularly those with pre-existing conditions, experience exacerbated respiratory issues, from chronic coughs to more severe complications like bronchitis;
• Dermatological Concerns: Severe skin irritations, including rashes and burns, have been reported, often requiring medical intervention to prevent infection.

The tragedy does not stop with humans. The Fair Future observations (especially in the area of Lewa) reveal a disconcerting trend among local wildlife and domestic animals. The consequences are just as severe:

• Wildlife Mortality: Unprecedented mortality rates are observed in native fauna, disrupting local ecosystems and food chains;
• Domestic Animal Losses: Farm animals essential to the local economy, such as cattle and chickens, are also at high risk. Unexplained deaths and reproductive issues among these animals have a cascading effect on community livelihoods;

The compelling data collected by our social and medical teams on the field underscores the urgent need for sustainable pest management strategies. The reliance on hazardous pesticides has become a silent war on both human and animal lives, demanding immediate, ethical, and practical solutions.

The psychological quagmire

The mental repercussions of this current crisis are staggering. Emotional distress, caused by poor harvests and financial insecurity, has pushed some people to irreversible tragic acts, even suicide, as Elthon and Alex have seen firsthand. In societies where collective well-being shapes individual identity, this crisis intensifies existing psychological disorders to unmanageable proportions, which is of great concern to Kawan Baik and Fair Future members here.

The East Sumba pest crisis is not merely an agricultural disaster. It is a silent war waged against human well-being, one that leaves scars on both flesh and soil. We can’t afford to wait; the time for sustainable, ethical solutions is now. Together, we can make a difference. – Alex Wettstein, CEO, Founder – Fair Future.

Burning land: A Terrible symbol of despair

• In the devastating landscape of the pest crisis in East Sumba, one act stands out as a visceral emblem of despair: The burning of fields;
• Farmers are turning to this drastic measure as a last resort in the absence of effective and sustainable options. Immediate effectiveness against pests is a short-lived victory but at an exceptionally high price;
• Burning fields is an urgent cry for help, a symptom of a more significant problem that requires immediate intervention. It symbolizes the critical crossroads these communities find themselves, caught between immediate needs and long-term sustainability;

Fair Future wants to try to solve this complex problem by seeking holistic solutions that not only combat the pest problem but also tackle the human and environmental crises that arise from it;

Child Health: The Overlooked Victims in East Sumba’s Pest Crisis

Children in East Sumba are often the forgotten casualties in the ongoing pest crisis, disproportionately affected by pesticide exposure. Their vulnerability is exacerbated by their developing immune systems, elevated metabolic rates, and behaviors such as playing in pesticide-treated fields. This increased susceptibility manifests in a myriad of concerning ways:

• Immediate Health Effects: Children experience acute symptoms like respiratory issues and skin irritations;
• Long-Term Consequences: Developmental delays, learning disabilities, and hormonal imbalances are noted as chronic outcomes;
• Elevated Cancer Risks: There is an increased risk of childhood cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma;
• Psychological Toll: The frequent illnesses induce stress and contribute to mental health challenges;
• Intergenerational Impact: The risk of birth defects in future generations is elevated due to current pesticide exposure.

Given these significant risks, the imperative for safer and more sustainable pest control solutions has never been greater. Fair Future is steadfast in its commitment to mitigate these risks and protect the well-being of East Sumba’s children.

Conclusion: A United Front for Multifaceted Solutions

Confronting the pest crisis in East Sumba requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond just immediate agricultural solutions. We are grappling with a situation akin to one of the seven plagues of Egypt—such is its devastating impact on both human life and the environment. This crisis necessitates interventions that safeguard health, ensure psychological well-being, and uphold the social fabric of the affected communities.

Fair Future, in collaboration with Kawan Baik, remains steadfast in its commitment to both human and environmental well-being as we combat this overwhelming crisis. However, the magnitude of the problem is such that it cannot be mitigated by any single organization alone. To effectively address the root causes and the multi-dimensional impacts, we open our arms to all forms of collaboration—be it private, industrial, or governmental.

It’s disheartening to witness that local authorities have so far limited their interventions to distributing pesticides. Not only is this a short-term fix, but it also perpetuates a cycle of illness and long-term health risks, including fatalities, among the population. This is not a sustainable or humane solution. It only deepens the crisis we are collectively facing.

Your support and collaborative efforts can bring about the desperately needed change. A united front is the only way to develop and implement sustainable, practical solutions that respect human life and our planet. In these testing times, your support becomes invaluable. Donating to Fair Future ensures critical medical care and contributes to devising sustainable solutions for these afflicted communities. Thank you for being a Kawan—a good friend—and for standing with us against social and medical injustice.

Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – September 24th, 2023.