FOOD SECURITY REMAINS CRITICAL IN PARTS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
SAYS UN HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE
NEW YORK, 7 November (OCHA) -- In several countries in southern Africa, food security remains critical, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said today.� This is especially true for Zimbabwe, where both rural and urban populations have only limited access to food.� An increasing number of families cannot afford basic food due to the escalating prices.� The cost of a basic monthly food basket for a low-income family, for example, is six times higher than the Government’s minimum wage for industrial workers.
Also, in Zimbabwe, prospects for the 2003-2004 agricultural year are dim, due to poor availability of agricultural inputs, lack of foreign exchange and counterproductive policies.� Humanitarian agencies are in the process of distributing seeds and tools to households for the season.� Approximately 5,000 metric tons of maize seeds are scheduled for distribution.� Currently, due to high inflation and inadequate supplies of seeds and fertilizers in the country, their prices have increased, in some cases substantially.� In some districts, seeds and fertilizer are not available in commercial markets.� Many farmers are therefore affected.
In Mozambique, approximately 659,000 people living in the south and centre of the country are extremely food insecure due to limited post-harvest stocks.� During October, due to pipeline constraints, the World Food Programme (WFP) Mozambique was able to meet the needs of only around 70 per cent of these people.� Confirmation of additional resources to meet their needs is urgently required.
In Lesotho, serious drought has persisted in most of the country since April this year.� This has lead to the complete failure of winter crops in the Lowlands and Foothills.� Insufficient rainfall during October and into November may jeopardize the 2003-2004 agricultural season, as many farmers, particularly in the mountain areas, have missed the prime time for planting certain crops.� Humanitarian agencies are concerned that many households may have reduced access to food because of the lost winter production and reduced potential for the coming season. �According to the WFP, between 600,000 and 700,000 people could be in need of food aid in the coming months.� Agencies also fear that outbreaks of diseases caused by the consumption of stagnant water may occur.
However, in Malawi, normal to above-normal rainfall is expected in most of the country, while rains have begun in Mozambique.� Zambia is also expected to experience normal rains in most of the country.
Funding for the southern Africa appeal stands at about 20 per cent overall.� Breaks in the food pipeline are expected in January, and funding for other aid is urgently needed.
For further information, please call:� Stephanie Bunker, OCHA NY, tel.: (917) 367 5126, mobile: 917 892 1679; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel.: (41 22) 917 26 53, mobile: (41 O) 79 473 45 70.
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