Hunger Crisis in Southern Africa

In Depth

UN SPECIAL ENVOY SAYS TRIPLE THREAT MUST NOT PREVAIL IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

WFP's Executive Director James Morris is also the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa.

As he embarks on his fifth mission to the region, he urges that efforts to reverse the decline caused by the "triple threat" of HIV/AIDS, food insecurity and weakened government capacity must not fail.

From 22 May - 1 June, Morris plans to visit four countries across Southern Africa, to see for himself how Zambia, Malawi, Botswana and Zimbabwe are coping with crippling poverty, chronic food insecurity and some of the highest adult prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in the world.

HEAVY HEART

"I embark on this trip with a heavy heart: to see such suffering, such lost potential, so many lives lost – makes it very hard to keep up hope for the future," said Morris.

"Yet amidst all this suffering, I have seen tremendous resilience, dignity and determination. When I look into the eyes of a young mother who has lost her husband and three children to AIDS and malnutrition, and yet remains determined to secure the best possible chances for her surviving baby, I am humbled.

"We owe her – and millions more just like her – our continuing support and best efforts."

MEETINGS

Morris will meet with government officials, donor representatives and aid agencies as well as visit projects and meet with beneficiaries in Zambia and Malawi.

On 25 May the Special Envoy will hold a review meeting in Johannesburg to discuss the HIV/AIDS crisis that will include the Executive Directors of UNICEF and UNAIDS, Ann Veneman and Peter Piot.

The meeting will examine current interventions, UN reform, and the need to gear up humanitarian response in the face of a more competitive environment for resources.

IMMENSE NEED

Morris' trip to the region comes as Southern Africa
is moving into yet another year of immense humanitarian need.

It is already evident that
in addition to covering regional food shortages, funds for non-food items such as medicines, healthcare, education, water and sanitation supplies will be critically needed in the year ahead.

WFP in the region

At the beginning of 2005, WFP launched a US$404 million operation to support a monthly average of 1.5 million people in five Southern African countries.

The three-year operation is designed to support families and individuals who are increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia.

These five countries account for half of the ten highest adult prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, a growing number of orphans and rapidly declining life expectancy.

About one third of the funds needed by WFP will support food relief, while two thirds will be used to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS and alleviate chronic food insecurity.

Recovery activities include school feeding, helping malnourished children, food-for-work and food-for-training programmes, and support for patients with tuberculosis and people receiving anti-retroviral treatment.