JOHANNESBURG, 29 December 2011 (IRIN) - In 2011 the global economic crisis combined with poor governance, financial mismanagement and unpredictable rainfall to push several southern African countries to the point of crisis. Others responded to rising unemployment and increased pressure on national budgets by hardening their attitude towards immigrants and closing their borders to asylum-seekers. IRIN covered developments from all over the region, but the following stories consistently grabbed headlines:

Despite Swaziland's predominantly subtropical climate and good access to water, drought is an increasing challenge for communities in its lowveld. The country also faces large income disparities, declines in economic growth, limited access to food and increasing socio-political tensions. The ravage of the HIV and AIDS pandemic are widespread. Population growth is in a freefall, life expectancy now sits at 40 years and an increasing number of elderly people are now caring for the many orphans due to HIV.

The Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross Society

SITUATION UPDATE

The winter season is nearing its end. There is a clear trend of rising temperatures after what has been an uncharacteristically cold winter for Swaziland.

There has been notable progress in the emergency response in several areas. The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and FAO have accelerated distribution of seeds and agricultural tools. The distribution has been finalized in six constituencies, benefiting 11,695 households, and will be completed in time for the planting season in October.

The Water Crisis Committee (WCC) worked to expedite the response to the acute water shortage. The WCC drilled six boreholes and rehabilitated one water infrastructure at Lavumisa, an area in the Lubombo region with serious water shortages. During the upcoming week, the WCC team will focus on the Matsanjeni constituency in the Lubombo region. The team will determine drill sites for new boreholes and will identify any water infrastructure that requires rehabilitation.

After nearly two years of stable fares,

Parliament authorised the release of the $23.8 million pledged by the Government to respond to the drought emergency. In the course of the week the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury are to execute the release of the funds to the Ministry of Regional Development and Youth Affairs (MRDYA).

The planned labour strike took place on 25-26 July. There were significant disruptions of the school activities, the banking sector and sugar industry, which is one of the major sources

Major developments

- Prolonged dry spells and high temperature levels at critical stages of the maize crop development have decimated Swaziland's maize crop, resulting in the lowest annual harvest on record.

- Maize production in 2006/07 is estimated at about 26 000 tonnes, nearly 60 percent below last year's level.

- Total cereal import requirement in the 2007/08 marketing year (April/March) is estimated at about 173 800 tonnes, of which 129 000 tonnes are expected to be imported commercially.

- With about 4 800 tonnes of food aid

Geneva, 31 October 2005

Dear Colleagues,

The low-veld areas of Swaziland is facing severe food and water shortages which have now reached endemic proportions and especially worsened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. ACT member the Lutheran Development Services (LDS) have been engaged in distributing WFP food rations to most of the affected communities.

A drought, for a fifth consecutive year, has left many families hungry. The water situation has worsened as the sinking ground water level is leaving boreholes dry. At the same time,

With over 200,000 people infected with HIV out of the 1.1 million population and four successive years of drought, Swaziland is amidst a dire, but silent emergency. The HIV pandemic has orphaned an estimated 69,000 children and the figure is growing by 10,000 per year.

More than one third of women and children cannot access basic needs, including health, education, and psychosocial support. Poor nutrition and HIV infection operate in a downward spiral with poor sanitation and declining access to safe water. Approximately