Post date: Dec 03, 2012 1:10:55 PM
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that millions face the prospect of food shortages in drought-hit areas of southern Africa over the next four months.
BLANTYRE, MALAWI (WFP) - The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a looming hunger crisis as millions face the prospect of food shortages in drought-hit areas of southern Africa. Among the worst affected countries are Malawi, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
WFP said it was working with governments and partners to scale up efforts to deliver food assistance to more than 3.5 million people in southern Africa.
Erratic rainfall during the last planting season means harvests in many areas have not been sufficient to sustain the nutritional needs of farming communities this year and, even where food is available in local markets, it is often too expensive for the poorest households.
Communities already struggling to feed their families are now bracing for the onset of the so-called hunger season that traditionally lasts from December until harvest time in March.
"We had problems this year, the rain has been so erratic. We planted in the first place and the crops dried out. We planted the second time again it didn't take and we planted the third time with no results," said Saukila Black, a farmer form Malawi.
The prices of staples like maize in local markets has significantly increased, making it expensive for many of the country's poor.
Maize prices have increased by 60 percent in local markets in Lesotho since the start of the year.
In Malawi, maize prices have risen nearly 80 percent since this time last year.
To alleviate some of the problems, governments, together with donors and other regional organisations have been working together to mobilise resources to help the most vulnerable people.
In southern Malawi, WFP is distributing food to more than 1.8 million people living in rural communities. The Malawi government has donated 25,000 metric tons of maize from its Strategic Grain Reserve and has announced plans to release a further 47,500 tons.
Other donors like UKAID, USAID and the Kingdom of Norway are also supporting the operation.
In Zimbabwe some 1.6 million vulnerable people, one in five of the rural population, are facing food shortages.
While most of these are being assisted through food distributions, some 300,000 people are receiving cash to enable them buy their own cereals from local markets.
In the southern highlands of Lesotho, 200,000 people in farming communities are receiving food fromWFP.
Meanwhile, several southern African governments are working together to find long-term solutions to the food crisis caused by two consecutive years of crop failures.