The im told me on the logical hello in a warm welcome to the program. A highly addictive drugs is destroying west africas use. Its called cush, sincere, and the own president julios my that b o has declared a National Emergency on drug abuse, responding to a drastic increase in the use of cush pushes, a synthetic drug with devastating effects is called hundreds of death as well as major psychiatric damage to some uses and its a main victims, a young syria, the audience. As a few past and cush, catapults the use into a trance Like State Police once high, they sway their bodies back and forth, appearing some of the like in drowsy. Its about 25. 00. Few as sensitize kush is a relatively cheap and easy way to escape reality. But the kick only last for an hour, then they need to buy more dependencies, destroying the lives of many young sierra leone units. They say i have to purge my body of this substance company. Since i started smoking 5 years ago, my body is now addicted to the thing. I have to buy medication, but i dont have the ability to a myself, so afraid thats phone. So its difficult to deep ramco roma is a social work. He often visits crushed, use a hide out like this one and free town though there are no statistics on crush addiction. He believes its the most urgent issue that government needs to deal with. Young people die young people on die, we need a city and it will go throughout the g. So c o young people to control miss world and see whats on his breath. Its multi moments. It is right on seeing really and only Psychiatric Hospital is overwhelmed with cush addicts. More than half of those admitted i use us, but stuff say these are the worst cases. And only the tip of the ice book you go down to the box, you put onto this treat suit onto to get so youll find much more you know, people using these substances on the box has been created on them. Now what we see here with cush addiction rapids the on the rise c, around the, on the president has declared a National Substance abuse emergency and set up a special task force were making cuz the fact that they have to come by the spanish part of what students that we are experiencing is calls the consumption and escalated fatalities. Its key. The push is highly addictive and destructive. Whats less clear is with comes from school, where its going reports say it is already destroying lice. The neighboring countries like guinea and liberia, crush is not just a problem for syria, leo, and, but also some neighboring countries. Back in january libraries and new president joseph book, i used his 1st stage of the nation address to declare the use of kush a Public Health emergency and an existential threat for the country. Now my colleague, edith kamani travel to monrovia not so long ago to find out more about the child into their and she joins us now from nairobi. Hi, edith, you tell us about what you witnessed in library as well as soon as it goes to monroe via one of the 1st things people kept telling us is you have to talk about this problem, of course. But the challenge is that we can see the challenge, we can see the problem here and very well, we would see people nodding off as its cold when you completely zoned out. But it didnt really reflect what people was saying. Its only until we went to whats called a trap house in a bundle building where people take drugs the be really good to see what the child enjoys. And so this is the report that we filed a part of the 77 percent, which is the ws african flagship program. As the to say is that there is a drug here which has ravaged some of its use cushion feeds. I think thats a drug was to originate and co position is still not fully understood, but its become a popular drug for distribution to youth who have nothing to look forward to that. So were going to speak to some of them to understand why the Interest Rate and what it means cause the sites on the on told these ruins house at least 300 people. Almost everyone here smokes goose for about 4 years now. Its been severely affecting liberias utilities youve had to for the to west of what size, quickness thing, because its not anything that ive ever experienced before. Every room with a 2003 and im fissions and this prison im on the phone, 3 entities crush like crack, delivers a brief yet powerful, high wind smoke. The sensation quickly fades, leaving the use a in a kind of home. I need william cooper, who is smoking a single penny to push for 0. 50 . Yes, we need to do some time. You know, in mid june forego but it finds made you feel to forget what the warren area and what are things that been bothering you. So when did this, you love yourself was a time when youre waiting to get its already body to complete it, where you see how give island in st. The morning to get saw, a damn file. So to consume the individuals addicted to drugs in this area referred to as so goes a term akin to zombies. The ruins also shelter many women to support the drug habits. Some of them engage in commercial sex work. Ive seen a few women here who are pregnant. What happens when they get breath said its i will give you the jamie was in. Is it dangerous here for you as women . No, no, no. All you took the money in the to have the free or run or when it was going to give you the money. Does that happen to you . Yeah, the yeah. All right, thank you. Of the conditions. Yeah. Characterized by re drug abuse, violence and drums such disease are shocking and heartbreaking. People here result to various means to earn money, some so food, while others work at the beach plumbing concrete. Drug addiction has incapacitated menu. The recently cubic use has claimed the lives of 2 residents. I mean this to low cost of raising funds to support the affected the how did it become such a penetrative drug . It might be. Why do you think the government has been slow to respond . I think the reason is because of some of the very gone officials. You go, i thought of this, then go drugs view the then the drugs eating. Yeah, some of the bottom is also evolved into the drug unit. So they would not want to put the free to love you at the you. Yeah. If they use a bare with the goal, not really nothing maybe and thats the politicians are benefiting from drug trafficking. A claim we hear from Human Resources and planned to investigate the re, the reason that i was so while a family was involved was about to have morning. No, i cannot to me when i go home, ill be like, oh, loving things. But when i agreed, okay, so our really leg for that it helped to top tv. I mean it did that in the in fall. Right. So that can be, dont have to. This isnt to guys. Thank you so much for the opportunity this this house and the people you need to leave me both stunned and hydro can. Its a stuck reminder of how society can neglect its own. These individuals cannot overcome their challenges without support. But a chilling and sad watch them, you just get a sense of why these people, the young people are getting into, into these drugs. Well, obviously theres an individual story for every individual use that. But the general consensus is that a lot of these young men and women wellborn into war time when liberia was really eating itself, come out of that into and it will up and a week and after that could be 19. And so its been disaster of to disaster for each and every step of their lives. And so its no surprise, but a lot of them, most of them often autonomy to drugs and with no support from government is still surprised that some of them have been in that house closing public for years. Youve done a lot of reporting, you know, and, and various countries. But what, the, what impression that this one leave on you. And i can tell you that these are images that i wouldnt be forgetting for a long time. When we were done filming, i turned around and there was a young man, a venture being done to that. He was just 20 years old. And he looked at me with such desperation. And with the soft voice just said, please help us before its too late. And i thought hes so desperate and hes just 20 years old. And i just didnt see a way out for him at such a young age. And i could really relate to him because, you know, im not much older than humans. He imagine a world where youre trapped before youve been have a chance to fulfill your potential. The slippery feeling very, very, very dejected. It is kimani and dw studio narrow b. We appreciate your reporting. Thank you. Last week now to principal luce, any executive director of the west african drug policy network, joining us from across. Welcome to dw news africa. Now is it clear to you what this drug kush is made of . You know, thank you for goods and they dont. Yeah, its absolutely clear. I mean, the room was about the composition of the drugs outside of the group myself. Its what looks like cubbies, but a little bit more different. But it was that room was about the contents of the substance they has. Um, tramadol, it has for my lean, ensue i need the kids to live here. It has to my boss, but then i think theyll be need, theres a need for. Ready advice im obviously is of the substance as it may be from one country to another. So we havent got to that stage of properly even studying it. Um, but do we know more about where it comes from all who produces it . The, the source of this drove is, is, is to clear, right . So depending on who you talk to a way find to. So i mean the tools that claims that the frequency, those birth to get up, id be friends with uses. We are, you have to really find out the whole region of, of the drug itself. So were not sure as to whether its come from abroad or whether its produced locally or how its traffic compared to other drugs. It is on clear, is that right . Im just based on your studies and youll observe ation of, of this do governments for example, in and certainly own or, or library have or even as the way it was in west africa, to africa where its where you have this problem. Do these governments seem to have a viable plan to address this specific issue any differently from how theyve approached drugs in the past and respectfully, i will say no. I mean, the housing approach drew any differently in the past. I mean, as we speak most of the in laws in the region or the saw bridge on i or receive, then 1st names lead. And uh, my organization in the west africa, federal forties and thats what kind of the advocates have been absent when it is these drills literally fall is an approach to a so based on human rights and for the show, it is good that the governments in liberia and squarely not thinking about support because the approach but the, the law is the legislation remains punitive. And even that for which they are currently using, i guess is also is kids. I think its also punitive. The blame is always on the, the, the people who use drugs. So with the declaration of a state of the majesty of drug abuse, i am hoping, as the diesel things in the formation of their types forces will go see to put the killed approach right. In any criminal justice approach. I mean, that means we should have on hold, so need see. So incarceration to punishments for drugs use. But as it stands right now, what i see in an idea of what ive seen in the serial you, it doesnt look like an absolute or its an 18. So criminal justice or even if its a 4 because i put the class that ive seen how this will be out. We addressed like the gum. Yeah. The using a model that is a 4 because the approach that that creates in testing making provisions for how reduction and also um, not as ease of, of the substance itself. So the con, how to prevent the vision. What makes this in particular, such a difficult drug and you know, surrounding phenomenon to tackle as im particularly because the, the, the content of the, the. Ready the, the, the, the major ingredients of these substances on. No, i think thats one major problem. And so it makes it difficult. So if you want to transfer, you want to address the problem. So you might be address in a dish of words, guns and the issues, the Health Related issues that we also have to address. So for example, if, even if i, even if use old or defendants, i pretty much use, i still sticking the drugs, they would have went ahead to they said issues, i knew how to do the also i have with us to show the problem. I will have to do so on the speed at which its destroyed lives in the hell it suits is, is beyond what we measure. So its any kind it fast piece destructive substance that would really need another ministration that has so stance. Use on the going to college and to be able to address it. Okay, well have to leave a conversation that but the principal as any, from the west africa, drug police, the network, thank you very much for speaking to us. Youre most welcome. Thank you for the extreme weather has been hits in communities across africa just this week. Temperatures reach 48. 5 degrees celsius in molly of advocates. Hottest recorded day in the month of april. The heat wave has killed more than a 100 people in mali. Oval wyoming the mugs. Over in the horn of africa, theres been heavy rain in one incident in northern kenya, a bus with more than 50 passengers, was swept away in flood waters. Fortunately, all of those on board managed to escape to safety. For the south zambia malawi ends and bob weigh heavily declared a state of disaster. The range of failed drought has destroyed the harvest and agencies a 24000000 people in the region. Please hunger, malnutrition, scientists attribute the severity of these events. The Climate Change the effect of human activity and natural weather patterns like el nino drought is a fact of life for many people in southern and eastern africa. But el nino events like the current one can make the problem much worse. Heres why. As although it occurs in the Pacific El Nino effects the weather right across our planet. Usually see winds push warm water from the west coast of south america across the ocean towards asia. But in el nino years, the waters off the coast of south america and california heat up more than usual that causes many rain clouds to form over this part of the ocean. Normally the strong winds along the equator would push the warm surface water to the west, feeding rainfall in asia and africa. But in the fall and winter of el nino years, these winds are weaker than usual and often blow in the wrong direction towards the east. That pushes the clouds inland, where they dump their rain in north, central and south america. This has knock on effect and the rest of the world, including africa, causing droughts and floods because of the changing rain patterns. Now the drought sweeping across Southern Africa has wiped out 80 percent of the above ways crops present. Amazon goggle it says the country needs about 2000000000. 00 to keep people from going hungry. Dw corresponding privilege with shiny reroute file. This report 9 to one year old page now is that key. Im a come by me from bob was global show and were all community. Hes inspecting what lead to is left of these crops visa, hard times for the not doing that in is he contemplates the months ahead. In good years, he often harvested more than 2 tons of grain from this field, but this time he will barely get a 50 kilogram sick. Version is from now on to the next task list. In february we really think that we are going to suffer. We are going to suffer, you know, i see people die if we try to prove someone cuz hes u. S. A v a dry spill is the ranking, hubble across between bob went into other solid in african countries. The poor range mean about 2700000 people will not have enough to eat on the table is the see. It may is, is this type of food in zimbabwe. But when clubs say you like this, it is tough for many families. People are now trying to figure out how they would survive in the coming months when the situation is expected to get west is about was president is appealed for you money, terry, and assistance to feed. The hungry top on our pile priority is securing food 4 o z and by means nose and bubbling must succumb to or die from honda. But quote, feed is like these are likely to get with scientists predict increasingly frequent droughts in coming years in the u. N. Food and Agriculture Organization phase countries must invest in drought proofing the agriculture. In most countries, investment in drug on his account is locked in. So national, International Resources partners need to invest in thought resilience because it is the most important and has that foresight enough. It got it out. So Summer League is like chemical imbalance or tentative what that associates like these essential life saving improvements. What was in bob was traditional reign, fed agriculture, large parts of west africa, hell, region not plague by violence. You have is insurgencies. But one country stands out as an exception. Mauritania has not seen a terror attack for more than a decade. Also, stock contracts from its next door neighbor molly, which is a haven for as low as the militant groups. The border between them runs for 2000 kilometers. The more attain inside is controlled by a unique force known as the merest dw maria gas. Nicholas school met them and sent us this report. Or the villagers always seem to celebrate. When the movers arrived, the men on camels provide practical things like medicines, but also the sense of not being forgotten by the outside. Whereas in the people in this remote village or tend to share their latest problem, the water pump is broken, which means humans and animals have to travel to find water. And the disability are used to be full of people, but many have left because of the lack of water from the pump. So that was essential for Drinking Water has been broken for 4 months. They submitted the problem to us and we will follow up with the leadership of the heart of the commander will take the best decision by to get mad at the bottom the, the hers dont own the act as a link to far away authorities. They are, task was protecting people and these remote areas from criminals and insurgents. The patrol desert areas near the border with the molly violence conflict, including the hottest insurgency, is raging on the other side. The harris want to stop it spreading. Has a big deal with these People Living in the desert and it could be targeted by the tire resisting said that it could be targeted by the criminals who said we try to educate them and we stay in touch with them because we fear that some group might change the peoples minds and then lead them to join these groups, which would create a problem for the entire world. And i will tell you, thank god, we are always in touch with them. It comes with them and we tell them to let us know if they see anything or hear anything about these groups whom godaddy silver. See what my says. So see the thought of you, nothing. And then the hers are recruited from the nomad communities in the region. They know the desert better than anyone, and sometimes spend several weeks on mission to reach the remotest villages. I would add to that we are not tired of this. We love this way of life. We are happier than desert than in the city, and in order we want to keep our heritage how we want to keep this originality inherited from our ancestors. And though i know why you then carol know it guy who actually leads the brigade, he says the mate hers to have helped mauritania to minimize the terrorist threat. Who involved preventative measures, whether at a military with social level, consist of gathering information about the enemy, collecting information about its sleep, a sales. Yeah. Can we do this so we can intervene before a surprise attack or rather do that. So that way the prevention is best as in the queue. You guys might, thats why id go with time for some, this is a flicker of hope in the face of ever expanding conflict in the rest of this i how as well. So thats it for now, but be sure to check out other stories on our website on social media and see you next time. Bye. For now, the old friends, new front is made so still prepared to defend itself in case of an emergency. The well largest, the military alliance has been maintaining stability for 75 years. But now some weaknesses, beginning to show this up from this new threat made in 15 minutes on the w to the points. Strong opinions, clear position in to spec to germany and china are sprinkling ties with rising tensions between china and that us are forcing germany and its transferred to make some tough choices this week. Onto the point we asked us in china trading, which side is germany . To the point in 90 minutes on d w. The comes out to the highlights you every week in your inbox, subscribe. Now that i wish i could have done more to save, you just click away, find the best document on you to really see the world. Never seen it before. The dr. No to dw talking entry. We did the urgency, lifesaving boxes the week if i ever seem to reach those who need us the most, every box seating the boxes for the hope of life savings, we fearlessly deliver not just next day that every day. Thousands of children are still waiting for that in the sponsor of books today. So together we can deliver futures, the, the, the ok, welcome to the program. Japanese, excuse me. Lets start from the top shy away. This dw, heres my, from by the end of this message, upon wants of the stretch from china, south and east, 5 minutes to, for me. I appreciate it tells us congress, thats amazing is the biggest thing just to mention that for peace and stability. Also in the program, tens of thousands play that holds in southern russia and the catholic style in the west flooding for 18. The