Over 6.2 million people in Malawi and Zambia are likely to face food shortages before April 2006, Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, told the House of Commons today.
"The latest assessment indicates that up to 4.85 million people face food shortages in Malawi," he said. "I am today confirming a further =A33 million to help respond to the increased need. This brings the UK government's contribution to the humanitarian response in Malawi to =A318.2 million. This additional money will be used to assist the Malawi Government's emergency feeding operation, buying pulses and oil to ensure that people get enough micro-nutrients and protein in their food rations. It will also support UN agencies and NGOs to identify and treat acute malnutrition in children under 5 years old, where it may occur.
"I am also confirming an additional =A34 million for humanitarian support to Zambia, where the latest assessment indicates that 1.4 million people in the Southern, Western and Eastern Provinces will face food shortages before the next harvest in March - April 2006. This brings our total humanitarian support to Zambia up to =A35.5 million. From this additional money, up to =A33 million will be provided through the World Food Programme, for emergency food aid distributions to 200,000 households. Up to =A3500,000 will help NGOs distribute urgently needed vegetable seeds to 20,000 households, and =A3500,000 will help UN agencies and NGOs to identify and treat acute malnutrition."
DFID has now committed over =A364 million this financial year to tackle food shortages and other emergency needs in southern Africa. This is providing food aid, water and sanitation, cash for relief, targeted feeding programmes, seeds and fertiliser, nutritional therapy, medical assistance and care to orphans and vulnerable children. Over 11.4 million people in southern Africa are now assessed as likely to face food shortages and in need of assistance up to April 2006.
Before today's announcement, DFID had already committed:
- =A340 million for Zimbabwe, including a =A310 million contribution to the World Food Programme's targeted feeding programme for up to 3 million people, and nearly =A310 million being channelled directly through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working at community level to assist up to 1.5 million poor and vulnerable people. Other funding, through United Nations (UN) agencies and NGOs, is directed to tackling HIV and AIDS, helping orphans and vulnerable children and those affected by Operation Murambatsvina ("Clean Up")
- =A315.2 million for Malawi, supporting the Government of Malawi's emergency food operation, helping with the purchase, transport and distribution of maize and seeds, and strengthening their logistics and early warning capacities
- =A31.5 million for Zambia, supporting the World Food programme's targeted emergency feeding programme and Oxfam's emergency cash transfers for 14,350 vulnerable households in Western Province
- =A3235,000 for Mozambique, for provision of seeds to drought affected farmers
- =A3350,000 for Lesotho, for distribution of seeds and fertilisers and the purchase of livestock for affected households
- =A3300,000 for Swaziland for distribution of seeds, fertilisers and other necessary help for the most vulnerable households.