The United Nations World Food Programme needs more donations, or 6,5-million people would face severe hunger at the most critical time of year, the organisation warned on Tuesday.
”Unless WFP receives immediate donations, people will face severe hunger,” Mike Sackett, WFP regional director for southern Africa said.
The WFP welcomed recent contributions following its appeal for southern Africa, but also expressed concern that its operations were still only 38% funded.
”Generous contributions have helped to stave off immediate cuts in WFP food distributions, but from January, countries across the region are confronted by the three-month lean season,” Sackett said.
”Supplies of locally produced food in critical areas will be scarce and people’s ability to cope is already limited because of the food shortages of recent years.”
He said the WFP’s current appeal is for $311-million and it urgently requires $193-million if it is to meet the needs of 6,5-million people in southern Africa who require food aid until June 30, 2004.
The appeal, launched in July, covers food aid needs for Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Malawi, Zambia and Lesotho. The shortages were most acute in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where food availability has decreased over the last year. Zimbabwe accounts for about two thirds of the appeal. – Sapa