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The worst drought in more than a decade
continues to devastate southern Africa |
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Across
southern Africa the worst drought in more than a
decade is destroying crops, pushing up food
prices and leaving millions in need of food aid.
The United Nations fears that if the drought
continues many families will be forced to adopt
self-destructive practices, such as selling off
their assets, to ensure short-term survival. |
Lesotho is facing a predicted near total failure
of the summer maize harvest. Although recent
rainfall has moistened the soil in most parts of
the country this has come too late to save the
harvest – as it has throughout the region. Water
sources are drying up and some rivers that
usually flow strongly have been reduced to
nothing more than a feeble stream. Years of over
grazing and dependence on maize are other
factors that have burdened Lesotho with soil
depleted of nutrients. General distributions of
food aid were suspended this month as there is
only enough for the country’s most vulnerable,
including the sick, the elderly, children under
five and pregnant women. The Prime Minister is
expected to appeal for increased international
assistance.
The southern region of Malawi is most vulnerable
to drought. The Department of Meteorological
Services confirms that half the country has not
received the levels of rainfall needed for crop
growth, with the western sector of the region
receiving less than 50% of normal rainfall. The
government is set to release maize from the
grain reserve to meet the high demand from
families, who are increasingly dependent on the
market as household stocks dwindle. At the same
time the government has imposed restrictions on
maize exports in an effort to contain the maize
price as demand increases. The government of
Malawi recently appealed for assistance to feed
3.5 million people in the south.
Some areas of Mozambique are experiencing their
lowest rainfall in 50 years. Ironically in other
parts of the country dams and bridges have
collapsed due to heavy rainfall. This has
hampered World Food Programme (WFP) food aid
deliveries, particularly in Magude district.
Stocks already in place will continue to be
distributed to isolated areas of the district by
boat. Over the past four weeks the Cholera
Treatment Centre in Maputo has reported an
increase in cholera cases in Beira City and
Nampula Province, where heavy rains have led to
deteriorating hygienic conditions. Food
shortages are worst in the southern province of
Gaza where more than 11% of children under five
are suffering from malnutrition. WFP's
implementing partners in Inhambane province have
expressed concern at the deteriorating food
security situation in the northern districts of
the province, and the rise in malnutrition rates
among children.
In Swaziland the National Disaster Task Force
has convened an emergency meeting of government
officials to discuss declaring a national
disaster. The Deputy Prime Minister's office is
preparing a cabinet paper that will be presented
shortly. Average rainfall is reported to be 55%
below normal. While recent rains may improve
grass cover and replenish water in some areas
improving conditions for livestock and the
supply of water available for human consumption,
improved prospects for crop production are
unlikely. Just under a quarter of the Swazi
nation is receiving food aid.
Although rainfall in Zambia is reportedly close
to seasonal norms, and the food security
situation has remained fairly stable, low-income
families are experiencing growing difficulty in
getting enough maize. A cholera epidemic in the
capital city of Lusaka has resulted in the
suspension of wet rations in a number of sites
falling under the Urban Intervention Programme
(UI). Water purification tablets have been
distributed to these sites, but WFP monitoring
is currently restricted. Planning is underway to
expand the UI programme to Livingstone and the
Copperbelt, the other two major urban areas,
which have the second and third highest HIV/AIDS
prevalence rates in the country. A major focus
of the programme will be targeting vulnerable
out-of-school youths and orphans. Kala refugee
camp in Luapula Province continues to receive a
steady flow of refugees from the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
In Zimbabwe lack of rain has resulted in the
almost complete failure of the maize crop and
has increased shortages of other staple foods.
The maize price in local markets has increased
by 40%. A food security assessment in Pande
district has confirmed that around 7 000 people
in the northern areas of the district will rely
on food assistance in the coming months. The
death toll from cholera in the country has risen
to 19. The SADC Regional Warning System Special
Agromet update for January indicates that the
late start to the rainy season and erratic
rainfall in some areas have led to a decrease in
the areas planted. This has raised fears of a
reduction in potential crop yields. Although
most parts of the country have experienced a wet
spell recently, there are dry pockets in the
southern districts of Masvingo, Matabeleland
South and parts of Manicaland. Field reports by
the UN Relief and Recovery Unit indicate that
early-planted maize is wilting in some areas due
to moisture stress, although small grains have
not been affected as much. Areas most affected
are Mwenezi, Chipinge, Chivi and most districts
in Matabeleland South. |
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