Homelessness among people with Central and Eastern European (CEE) migratory backgrounds is a concern in several Western European countries, including the Netherlands, where migration from other EU countries is often motivated by perceived employment opportunities. This study aimed to better understand the emergence of CEE labor migrants’ homelessness. Based on interviews with 42 Polish and Romanian labor migrants, we explored patterns of events and situations they described in relation to becoming homeless in the Netherlands. We identified five unique pathways to homelessness, named based on what appeared to be key events and situations: 1) Loss of work as a singular event, 2) Prior vulnerabilities and multiproblem situations, 3) Dissolution from a romantic relationship and loss of work, 4) Homelessness upon arrival and 5) Serious health problems. These pathways and the underlying experiences can inform policy in several ways. Implications include providing more information about living and working in the host country, more thorough recruitment processes, reconsidering combined contracts (work and housing), providing timely support to people who become unemployed, and sheltering and supporting people in cases of homelessness.
Food security solutions are the African Sahel's fierce urgency of now, especially with climate change which is already impacting the region. Climate change can have a huge impact on agriculture and subsequently, on food availability. Recurrent episodes of environmental phenomena (e.g., granivorous birds, acarine invasions, epizootics, epidemics), and climatic hazards (e.g., severe hydrological droughts, nationwide hydrological floods) have repeatedly plunged most rural families into poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. The history of Burkina Faso's experience in aquaculture spans seven decade-long efforts, but, in its current weak production status, will aquaculture be able to help face future challenges? This study reviewed the potential of the aquaculture sector while determining its weakness in order to make appropriate recommendations to guide the Next Generation Aquaculture (NGA) in the country. Therefore, we review the history, from 1950 to 2022, of the different nodes of the aquaculture value chain in relation to livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and climate change. The historical context of aquaculture in Burkina Faso showed a need for a transformative approach towards climate resilience. We found many barriers for aquaculture adoption including its management (i.e., staff, biological and chemical management) its political leadership, its economic sustainability, its environmental and climate challenges, and its sociological factors. Mitigation actions are needed both at aqua-farm and national levels. These include proper governance, gender inclusivity and, promoting climate-smart aquaculture (CSA). To ensure the environmental sustainability of aquaculture, considerable efforts should be made in terms of climate-smart aquaculture research, development, training and education in order to address economic, social and environmental paradigms. Definition, implementation and maintenance of the principles of good practices in aquaculture (GPA) at each stakeholder level, is necessary to regulate all aspects of the aquaculture value chain for NGA, including relationships with other sectors. As such, this paper provided solutions meant to transform the Burkina Faso aquaculture industry through innovations in the sustainability area. It is recommended that both state officials and private stakeholders work together to achieve GPA in the industry. This review further discusses how coherence of aquaculture development policies can help mitigate future disturbance about food availability and climate change in Sahel countries facing similar kinds of challenges as Burkina Faso.
Perkoa polymetallic zinc deposit, formed in a context of massive volcanogenic sulphides, generated large volumes of potentially reactive wastes during its exploitation due to the predominance of sulphide minerals. The aim of this study is to assess the acid-generating potential, i.e. the potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD), of these wastes. To this end, four representative samples of these wastes were collected in a targeted manner at the Perkoa mine site, including waste rock, mine tailings and crusher waste. The analyses focused on determining the mineralogy by X-ray diffraction, the physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity), the sulphur and carbon contents, and the acidity and neutralization potentials. The results reveal, with the exception of waste rock, acidic pH values (< 5), high electrical conductivity (> 500 µS/cm) and high sulphide content, mainly pyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite. The acid potential (AP) shows high values between 5 and 1000 kg CaCO3/t. On the other hand, the neutralization potential (NP) is low, with NPR (NP/AP) ratios below 1 and negative NNP (NP-AP) values in the range of -1300 to -5 kg CaCO3/t. These results show that these wastes would not be able to neutralise any acid that might be generated as a result of their oxidation. The most reactive acidogenic minerals are pyrite and pyrrhotite. Acid-producing mineral species are represented by silicates such as actinolite, microcline and chlorite. In summary, these results confirm a high risk of AMD development from mine wastes.
Some regions in general, and the Houet province in particular, like other regions of Burkina Faso, are subject to continuous degradation of arable land, negatively impacting agricultural production. To curb this phenomenon, farmers have implemented water and soil conservation techniques using stone lines and grass strips. To better understand the impact of these techniques on their fields, a study was conducted in rural areas in the Hauts-Bassins region, Houet province, specifically in the commune of Koundougou. The purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of Conservation of water and soil and the protection and restoration of soils (CES/DRS) works to improving the quality of agricultural lands, particularly in terms of yields, and also to understand the producers' perception of these soil and water conservation measures. The study was conducted in Burkina Faso, over Koundougou over twelve months. Environment and Agricultural Research, Farako-Bâ station over twelve months. Surveys in farming communities were conducted on 30 farms aiming to view the nature of sustainable soil fertility management. The results revealed that stone cordons and grass strips individually improve soil fertility and agricultural yield. In addition, the combined use of these two techniques has an enhanced effect on agricultural parameters. The improvement of these parameters has positively impacted the soils. Beyond these measurable parameters, the study found that more than 90% of producers are able to actually perceive the positive and significant impact of these structures in their fields and are convinced of the usefulness of these practices.
To estimate differential settlements of building foundation soils, the site on which the structure is based must be geotechnically surveyed in order to determine the deformation parameters and the thickness of the compressible soil layers in various places. This involves conducting destructive surveys. In this study, the use of geophysical methods (electrical soundings) as a substitute for the conventional methods used was considered. The Schlumberger electrodes array was deployed at the level of a control borehole and at three projected footings. The combination of the results of the electrical soundings with the lithological section of the borehole reveals a significant correlation between the variations of cumulative resistivities and the lithological section of the subsoil. The thickness of the compressible layers at the level of the projected footings is estimated to vary between 5 and 6 m. Œdometric differential settlements have an estimated maximum value of 4.56 cm
