Lilonwe (Fides Service) - In Malawi there are about 1.2 million AIDS orphans and this figure threatens to reach the 2 million mark. The figure is all the more shocking considering that Malawi has a total population of less than 10 million. But cold math cannot speak of the drama lived by these little ones. For months now Malawians have struggled with famine and children are among those who suffer most. The government, unable to feed the children, relies on the UN Children's Fund to provide 80% of assistance for orphans. Because of hunger and AIDS Malawi has one of the lowest life expectancy rates, 36 years, and 54% of its people live below the poverty line. (LM) (Fides Service 7/11/2002)