Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - October 19, 2005
The appeal will provide food, agricultural support and safe drinking water to people in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe who are affected by widespread drought and a food crisis. It is estimated that 10 million people in southern Africa are living on the brink of food insecurity.
"We need to act immediately to avoid a tragic deterioration in an already alarming situation," said Richard Hunlede, head of the Africa Department at the International Federation.
"Urgent humanitarian action is needed in Southern Africa to assist people caught up in the triple threat of a rising HIV and AIDS rate, erratic rainfall and weakened government capacity. With food prices rising, many families are simply not coping."
An assessment by the International Federation in August 2005 found that people in Southern Africa most vulnerable to food shortages are people living with HIV and AIDS, households with orphans, female-headed households, people with disabilities and households headed by older people.
The current food insecurity emergency is part of a worrying trend of an increasing number of households in Southern Africa becoming chronically food insecure.
The International Federation appeal aims to meet the immediate food needs of 1.5 million people until the harvest of 2006, set up food-for-work projects, restore self-reliance in agriculture, ensure access to safe water, and train Red Cross staff in each country on livelihood and food security.
"We need to save lives now and do what is necessary to protect livelihoods in the long term," said Francoise Le Goff, head of the Southern Africa Regional Delegation in Harare.
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