Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lusaka (Fides Service)- “This is not yet an emergency but the situation must be kept under control” say local sources in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, one of the countries considered at risk of food shortage according to the United Nations World Food Programme. WFP warns that hunger is a threat for 10 million people in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. “Here in Zambia the government has take measures to avoid another tragic famine like the one which ocurred in 2002” the sources say.
“The atmosphere today is different from the one before the food crisis 2002. There is concern but not alarm. The government is buying maize from other countries and has incentivated local farmers by offering assistance for the winter harvest” the sources say.
It is mainly in southern Zambia that people suffer the consequences of the severe drought which affects various areas of southern Africa. “Farmers in Zambia reap 4 harvest a year, one every three months”. “In theory the country should produce enough food to feed its people and even to export food. The problem is that farming techniques are still archaic and there is a scarcity of infrastuctures like wells, canals and roads necessary to distribute the produce in the rest of the country”.
“We will see within the next two months if the measures adopted by the local authorities suffice if the situation gest worse” sources in Lusuka conclude.
The situation in other countries appears more serious, Malawi for example where at the end of August the United Nations appealed for 88 million dollars necessary to alleviate the hunger of more than four million Malawians. The money will go to face the emergency and also to help small farmers prepare the next harvest. The government of Malawi has launched tis own aid programme. “For the international community", said Shimon Pluess, WFP spokesman, “this is an uncommon opportunity to help an African government which has shouldered responsiblity to tackle the problem”.
In Africa the most serious food shortage is still in Niger where, according to WFP, 1.2 million people are at risk. Another area in trouble is the western Sudanese region of Darfur where because of raids by the ferocious Janjaweed militia many have abandoned their homes and live in camps where they rely totally on food supplied by international humanitarian organisations. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 8/9/2005 righe 36 parole 432)
