EnglishHumanity is facing all kinds of challenges. The historic drought affecting southern Africa has plunged 26 million people into acute food insecurity, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned, needing $300 million (286 million euros) in emergency aid. This "cannot wait," WFP's Mozambique director Antonella D'Aprile told a news conference in Johannesburg. "It is true that now is the time to provide support," she added. Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the worst affected. In many places, farmers who should have been planting at this time of year have been unable to do so due to lack of resources or water while waiting for the new rainy season. In Malawi, WFP has had to import food to help with shortages. "Almost half of the maize crop was destroyed by the El Nino drought earlier this year," said WFP's country representative, Paul Turnbull. "Adults are not eating so their children can eat, they are pulling their children out of school and selling everything they have of value," he said. Zambia, known as the "food basket of southern Africa," is on the "brink of a food crisis," warned Cissy Kabasuuga, WFP's country director. More than 25 million people are facing food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Peter Musoko, WFP's country representative. The situation is "caused by a cocktail" of conflict, extreme weather events and health crises, such as smallpox, cholera and measles, Musoko added.
Millions Face Acute Food Insecurity
O.D.
English Section / 6 decembrie 2024
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