AEGiS-IFRC: Red Cross deeply concerned about the slow response to the food insecurity appeal in Southern Africa

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Red Cross deeply concerned about the slow response to the food insecurity appeal in Southern Africa

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - January 20, 2006

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Southern Africa has expressed its profound concern over the slow response to the food insecurity appeal launched in October last year following another severe drought which left more than 12 million in urgent need of food assist. The leading humanitarian organization made this announcement during a two day regional workshop held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"The response to the appeal has been disappointing with a coverage as low as 20% and yet, the stories we hear on the ground are harrowing," said Francoise Le Goff. She added, "Food insecurity is rapidly deepening across Southern Africa. Right now, 12 million people are feeling the bite of the lean period, before the harvest, when prices are at their highest and yet we do not have enough resources to urgently address this crisis," she added.

In October 2005 the Red Cross launched a food insecurity appeal seeking US $ 30 million to assist 1.5 million people for nine months, until the next harvest in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In spite of the low response to the appeal, the organisation has already been able to launch a food aid distribution in five districts in Malawi and distribution of seeds and fertilisers

The food security operation by the Red Cross supports individuals and households affected and infected by HIV and AIDS, orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS, and other vulnerable groups such as the chronically ill including tuberculosis patients, people who are elderly, disabled, and pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as school-age children.

"Faced with this critical situation and given that our target group is the worst affected, the Red Cross could not wait for the appeal to be covered 100%, but had to start distributing food to the most vulnerable people with the funding available" said Lawson Kasamale, the Malawi Red Cross secretary general.

Apart from providing food aid, the Red Cross is also planning to provides seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural inputs to people whose livelihoods have been eroded by a number of causes which include economic stagnation, weak States governance, and decreased formal employment opportunities, inappropriate agricultural policies, adverse climatic factors, environmental degradation and, more recently, the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS.

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For further information or to set up interviews (ISDN line available), please contact: Tapiwa Gomo, Regional Information Officer Tel: + 27 829 604 156 (in South Africa) or (In Zimbabwe from 22/01/06) +263 91 345 936

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