Japan aid eases southern Africa food crisis -U.N.
Source: Reuters
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - A Japanese donation of $5.2 million has helped ease a food crisis in southern Africa, but more cash is needed to address persistent food problems, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday. The World Food Programme (WFP) said in October millions in the region were threatened by food shortages after rich countries failed to meet aid pledges, creating a $60 million shortfall in funds to feed southern Africa. But the food agency said the money from Japan meant it could now purchase staple maize, maize meal and corn-soy blend to feed hundreds of thousands. "This generous donation comes at a critical time because WFP's food stocks are very low and we are now entering the lean season when the most vulnerable people exhaust their remaining food supplies," Amir Abdulla, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa, said in a statement. "This contribution will help to ensure that hungry families, orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS in southern Africa continue to receive food assistance in the increasingly difficult months leading up to the next harvest in April." The group said uneven rainfall and the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS had left the region vulnerable despite healthy harvests. Southern Africa is the centre of one of the world's biggest AIDS epidemics, which has crippled a generation of farmers and cut into food production. WFP said it planned to feed 4.3 million people in southern Africa in 2007 but needed a further $117 million in funds. "... many households could not grow enough food for the full year due to a combination of erratic weather and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Others spent all their assets on food or medicines and are now struggling to feed themselves," the statement said. "Meanwhile, the number of orphans and vulnerable children keeps increasing. All of these groups face a particularly harsh 'lean season' and require some degree of food assistance to help them cope until the April harvest and in many cases afterwards as well." The Japanese aid will be divided among Malawi ($1.7 million), Swaziland ($900,000), Zambia ($1.3 million) and Zimbabwe ($1.3 million).
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