The convergence of multiple crises in southern Africa is destroying communities and undermining political stability in the region. Extreme poverty and erratic climatic patterns affecting harvests and creating severe food deficits have been compounded by a gloomy and hazardous spread of HIV/AIDS. There are an estimated 73,000 orphaned children under the age of 15 who live in Lesotho without parents who have died from AIDS and malnutrition. Food shortages in these regions affect millions per day and the HIV/AIDS pandemic is endangering the lives and livelihoods

Summary
A cereal deficit of approximately 1 million MT is expected for the 2003/04 consumption year; the Government and NGO community need to start planning for continued food aid, non food aid and food imports for the 2003/04 consumption year.

The widespread food availability problems will start to ease up in March 2003 for most farmers who have planted early maize crops in the northern, eastern and some central districts of the country.

JOHANNESBURG, 29 January (IRIN) - Although a humanitarian crisis had been mitigated in Southern Africa through swift food aid deliveries, a horrifying new disaster was looming in Southern Africa in the form of HIV/AIDS, James Morris, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for humanitarian needs in Southern Africa warned on Wednesday.
"The impact of HIV/AIDS on this part of the world is enormous and the impact on women and children is devastating," Morris told journalists after a visit to four of the six southern African

JOHANNESBURG - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) expressed immense gratitude in response to today's extremely generous donation of almost US$20 million (ZAR170 million) by the Republic of South Africa to the agency's emergency food operation for southern Africa.
The funds will be used by WFP to purchase 100,000 metric tons of maize in South Africa for distribution to millions of vulnerable people across the region. This contribution is critical to ensure a steady flow of food aid supplies to more than 15 million people,

UN Special Envoys in Zimbabwe
Following up findings from their first missions, Mr James Morris and Mr Stephen Lewis' second Zimbabwe mission (23 to 25 January 2003) re-assessed the humanitarian situation in the region, reviewed response efforts and co-ordination mechanisms implemented to date. The mission placed special emphasis on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the region, including its long-term implications on food security. In addition, the mission focussed on how assistance measures can better serve the needs of women whose lives are most at risk and who provide the lifeline

January 28, 2003, Baltimore - Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Executive Director, Ken Hackett, today announced the appointment of Annemarie Reilly to the position of Regional Director for Southern Africa. Ms. Reilly, who will assume her new post in Harare, Zimbabwe, on February 15, 2003, will oversee the agency's programs in Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
"Given her wealth of experience within the agency, I believe Annemarie is uniquely qualified to meet the enormous challenges currently facing southern Africa," said Hackett.

HARARE, Jan 28 (AFP) - Five foreign church aid workers arrested last week in Zimbabwe on suspicion of being undercover journalists were freed Tuesday without charges being pressed against them, a lawyer said.
The five -- two Germans, a Finn, an American and a Kenyan -- were picked up by police on Friday along with a local journalist working for the independent daily in Zvishavane, a mining town in the drought-hit south of the country.

Police on Monday charged them under the new media law for operating without accreditation, although the group said

Déclaration du porte-parole adjoint du Quai d'Orsay

(Paris, le 27 janvier 2003) - Le secrétaire d'Etat, M. Renaud Muselier, s'est rendu au Malawi, en Zambie, et au Botswana du 22 au 24 janvier.

Cette tournée régionale en Afrique australe a marqué :

- la solidarité de la France face à une situation alimentaire critique en Afrique australe, aggravée par la pandémie du Sida.

Un plan d'urgence de 18 millions d'euros de la France en faveur de cette région a été annoncé par le secrétaire d'Etat lors de cette visite, pour faire face aux besoins immédiats, durant

This Ops Update is intended for reporting on emergency appeals.
Launched on 2 May 2002 for CHF 6,803,000 for 12 months revised 22 July to CHF 89,285,274 (USD 61.6 m/EUR 60.9m) in cash, kind and services to assist a minimum of 1.3 million beneficiaries for 12 months.

Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000

Period covered: 12 December 2002 - 27 January 2003

IN BRIEF

Appeal coverage: 57.6%

Related Appeals: 2003 Southern Africa region Annual Country Appeals