AEGiS-IFRC: Red Cross food security operation in Southern Africa on course despite poor funding

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

Red Cross food security operation in Southern Africa on course despite poor funding

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - March 6, 2006
Tapiwa Gomo, Johannesburg

The Red Cross has expressed its satisfaction with progress in the seven countries, following the launch of a nine months food security operation to avert starvation in the region. This was announced following a regional food security meeting in Johannesburg on the 3rd of March to review progress to date.

ôWe are operating in extremely difficult circumstance, given that the appeal is currently 25% funded which leaves a wider gap on our planned interventions, said Mr. McBian Kanongodza, the FederationÆs regional food security operations manager. ôHowever we take solace in that we have managed to start the operations in all the seven countries without adequate funding and we are still appealing to the international community to come in and support this initiative as this is the crucial stage.ö

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies launched a food insecurity appeal in October 2005 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 eight districts in Malawi and distribution of seeds and fertilizers.

It is estimated that over 12 million people in southern Africa are critically food insecure due to erratic rains in the previous planting season.

The Red Cross operation is currently supporting 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.

Few months before the harvest period, usually March to April are the most difficult months as many people would have exhausted all their coping mechanisms.

ôThe stories emerging from the field present a worrying trend,ö said John Roche, the senior food security officer for Africa. ôWe are concerned that the crisis has been poorly funded for the short term interventions, which support people during the hunger and lean months. We fear that this may reflect badly on the longer term approaches being developed to tackle food insecurity in the region.ö

However, the Red Cross societies have already started distribution of food aid in response to the immediate needs, seeds and fertilizers as part of the longer term response to the food crisis in all the countries.

ôThe seeds we have given out to our beneficiaries are short season varieties plus fertilizer, with the good rains across the region, we are hopeful that this intervention will go a long way in addressing the household food security needs of the people,ö said Dr. Monica Murata, the regional food security officer. ôIf this appeal was properly funded, we were going to be sure that, all our beneficiaries were going to get the best out of this intervention.ö

For further information or to set up interviews , please contact: Tapiwa Gomo, Regional Information Officer: +263 91 345 936

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