Press ReleaseFrom the Department for International Development1 October 2002CLARE SHORT OUTLINES FURTHER SUPPORT TO ALLEVIATE THE FOOD SHORTAGES IN SOUTHERN AFRICAClare Short today outlined the lead role being taken by DFID as part of the international response to the ongoing food shortages in southern Africa and committed continued support and expertise. The WFP estimate that over 14.4 million people will require 1 million metric tonnes of food aid across southern Africa by March 2003. Six countries (excluding Angola) in southern Africa will not produce sufficient maize to meet their requirements this year (Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). DFID has committed a total of £68.07 million for humanitarian assistance and recovery programmes to the region. DFID HUMANITARIAN CRISIS UNITMs Short has deployed a team of six humanitarian specialists to southern Africa to support the ongoing DFID response and closely monitor the food shortages. Total DFID support for humanitarian assistance and recovery programmes in Southern Africa since September 2001 is £68.07 million (see attached table). DFID is the biggest European donor providing a fifth of the overall European response and the second biggest bilateral donor to the crisis after the US. REHABILITATION OF RAIL LINK INTO LAND-LOCKED MALAWI TO SUPPLY URGENT FOODDFID is supporting the rehabilitation of the rail link between the port of Nacala in Mozambique and land-locked Malawi. Just over a quarter of Malawi’s population will be in need of food aid before March 2003. The improved link is essential to the special emergency operation being run by the World Food Programme to get food to those most at need. The total cost of the programme is £4.26 million, £4.1 million of which DFID has allocated. The rest has been met by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The project will allow the movement of an extra 10,000 metric tonnes of food aid per month. It will also diversify the World Food Programme’s transportation options in case of congestion, delays and increased needs. FEEDING 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWEDFID is supporting supplementary feeding programmes (announced in Zimbabwe two weeks ago) run by international NGOs in Zimbabwe. These organisations aim to give a meal a day to 1.5 million children and some vulnerable adults over the coming six months. Zimbabwe has the greatest number of people in need of food assistance (6.7 million) - 49% of the national population. The UK began support for NGO feeding programmes in badly affected areas of Zimbabwe a year ago, and the recent allocation brings DFID support through NGOs to £20m to date. It extends the programme to 26 districts and is a significant increase in numbers being reached. The UK programme will be feeding 10% of Zimbabwe’s population. INPUTS FOR THE FUTUREIn Zimbabwe DFID are jointly supporting five NGOs to provide a seeds and fertiliser recovery programme in poorer marginal areas in order to increase production of maize and beans. The programme covers more than 150,000 hectares. In Zambia DFID are funding a Food for Work programme covering 65,000 households in the worst affected areas. The project will encourage community recovery programmes. DFID is committed to supporting a programme under the government of Malawi’s National Safety Net Strategy that will provide 2 million households with starter packs of fertiliser and seeds. Notes to Editors:SOUTHERN AFRICA FOOD CRISIS: UK RESPONSE
Breakdown by country since Sept. 2001
In addition, we estimate that our contribution to commitments by the European Commission to date is about £17.6 million. Back to TopPress Enquiries: 020 7023 0600
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