MORE than 1,2-million Zambians are suffering from hunger, the result of a devastating famine in the southern African country, a World Food Programme (WFP) official said on Thursday.
The hunger crisis has affected nearly 10% of Zambia’s 10,5-million people, mainly in the Southern province.
The famine was caused either by floods during last year’s rainy season or drought in some areas, said WFP emergency coordinator David Rhody.
”Zambia needs about 42 000 metric tons of food relief to meet the shortfall,” Rhody said.
”But so far, we only have 32 000 metric tonnes that have been approved by donors. Of that approved consignment, only 10 000 have been distributed to the hunger stricken areas,” he said.
The WFP has received reports from the affected areas that some people have died as a result of hunger, but no specific numbers are available, he said.
”Others died of diseases such as malnutrition caused by hunger,” Rhody said.
Zambia’s government has appealed for more food aid, saying the situation has reached alarming levels in some parts of the country.
”Southern province is badly affected to the extent that people have literally nothing to eat,” said Webster Walubisha, an official overseeing disaster management. – Sapa