AFRICA/MALAWI - Plan to meet food emergency in an area neglected by public structures and other food aid services focuses on children and schools

Rome (Fides Service) - Malawi is one of the country’s in Africa most at risk for famine because of its mono-culture, impoverished soil and progressive diminution of farmers. Malawi is now at the centre of a massive intervention aimed at integral covering of all women and new born infants to create a generation without AIDS and at the same time programmes for farming, formation, creation of professionals, re-launching micro-credit business. Famine however is an additional threat which must be face immediately in many parts to avoid an ulterior deterioration of life.
The Italian region of Lazio and S. Egidio community are working together to face the emergency in a zone close to the largest centre in the country Lilongwe, with a population of over 200,000 who do not receive food aid. So far in the Shire Valley area 2,118 family food packs with enough food for one month have been distributed with the involvement of village chiefs, schools and the participation of S. Egidio communities on the spot.
The children were identified after visits to about 8 elementary schools in and around Mapelela. Contact was made with local primary schools: Chagankatuka Junior School which has 51 IADS orphans, Mapepela School with 157 children, Mapelela East Bank School 120, Mzangwe School 187, Jake School 52 and Nkate School with 330 children. These are all state schools and this was the first distribution undertaken with the teachers.
The village schools are situated between one river affluent and another and when the rivers swell people are cut off and out of reach for humanitarian organisations.
Some 1,218 packs of aid were distributed in the Mpate-Lilongw area at an existing food centre which feeds about 1,500 children. The area was chosen because although it is not far from Lilongwe, most homes are in the near by mountains and women and children cannot reach the town. The feeding centre is run by local Presbyterian volunteers. (AP) (24/3/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:35; Parole:418)