/ 27 October 2003

Cupboard is bare for WFP’s Africa campaign

The United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) southern African 2003/04 regional operation is currently only 28% funded, with donor contributions of $147,9-million received compared with a requirement of $533-million, the WFP said in a statement on Monday.

The WFP has received 33% or $102,9-million of its food-funding requirement of $311,2-million for the 2003/04 operation and only 1% or $144 606 of its requirement of $16,7-million for its non-food aid need.

The WFP also said experts are warning that South Africa, the region’s breadbasket, is heading for a drought.

In Zambia, food security remains stable with a few exceptions in some of the country’s southern, western and northwestern provinces.

“Zambia market prices of maize are still lower than average and millers are experiencing a very good maize supply situation, particularly from the small-scale farming sector,” the WFP said.

In Zimbabwe, food security continues to worsen and as a result negative coping mechanisms such as child labour and prostitution are on the rise, the WFP added. – I-Net Bridge