The Organisation of African Union (OAU) said on Friday it had released $1,2-million to help combat drought and the threat of famine in six countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe will each receive $200 000 for a special emergency fund, the OAU said in a statement.
Earlier in June, the US government announced it would make a $14-million aid donation to enable hunger-stricken Malawi to import the staple food, maize.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a statement the funds would be used to buy 40 000 metric tonnes of maize.
The European Union last month promised to provide 95 000 tonnes of emergency food aid to feed the most vulnerable groups in Malawi, including about half a million children aged five years or less and some 100 000 pregnant and nursing mothers.
Drought has provoked a severe food crisis in Malawi which has resulted in 15% drop in maize production.
The southern African country plans to spend $150-million in a bid to avert hunger next year, which threatens up to 3,2 million people. – Sapa-AFP