LILONGWE, Malawi, Jan 22 (AFP) - France on Wednesday announced 18 million euros (19 million dollars) in emergency funding for famine-struck southern African countries.

Around 13 million euros of the emergency plan would be devoted to emergency food aid, Junior foreign minister Renaud Muselier said while visiting Lilongwe, administrative capital of Malawi.

Another 4.6 million euros would be allocated to longer-term development aid, and 500,000 euros in non-food aid.

The aid would benefit Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, the minister said.

The announcement came a day after the main UN humanitarian agencies launched an urgent appeal to stem the dual human tragedy of HIV/AIDS and famine sweeping the region.

"Without a massive infusion of money and a greatly expanded effort by the affected countries in collaboration with the international community, the future prospects for the 60 million people living in Southern Africa hold little hope," a UN statement said.

The United Nations estimates that 15.4 million people in the region are under immediate threat of starvation.

ej/lmf/nb AFP

Copyright (c) 2003 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 01/22/2003 11:05:41