Severest hunger crisis for decades in southern Africa
Published: Tuesday, Oct 15th 2024, 14:10
Updated At: Tuesday, Oct 15th 2024, 14:50
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According to the UN, a hunger crisis is looming in southern Africa that has not been seen for decades. 27 million people are affected, reported the World Food Program (WFP) in Geneva.
The trigger is an unprecedented drought in several countries. Crops have failed and livestock has died. Many people, including children, have to make do with one meal a day. The next harvests are not expected until March and April, said Tomson Phiri, WFP spokesperson for the Southern Africa region.
According to the report, five countries have already declared the hunger crisis a national emergency and asked the international community for humanitarian aid: Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The situation is also precarious in Angola and Mozambique, said Phiri.
The WFP has started procuring and distributing food and wants to support 6.5 million people by March, said Phiri. However, it has so far only received a fifth of the necessary resources amounting to 369 million dollars (around 339 million euros).
©Keystone/SDA
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