World Food Programme says food aid to Southern Africa may be cut

By Lance Guma
27 October 2006

The World Food Programme (WFP) released a statement Thursday saying a US$60 million funding shortfall could see food aid to Southern Africa being cut. WFP regional director Amir Abdulla says, ‘If the situation doesn't improve, more people, especially children who are poorly nourished, are more likely to die before reaching their teens.’ The cuts are set to affect over 4 million people in the region and in Zimbabwe alone over 1,4 million people will be affected.

Other countries in the region relying on this support include Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia. Although the WFP identified over 1,4 million Zimbabweans who needed food aid in May this year the latest cuts will see only about 450 000 benefiting from food aid. Most countries in the region have reported good harvests but Zimbabwe’s agricultural industry remains in the intensive care unit. Ongoing farm evictions and the under-utilization of acquired land have made sure production is low. The government is also known to give misleading harvest figures.

The WFP says it will scale down general food assistance and instead focus ‘on the people with the most chronic needs, such as those with Aids.’ The official admitted that because of the high prevalence of HIV infection in the region ‘people are dying of Aids-related illness when they could have survived for years if they had had enough food to eat. Anti-retroviral therapy is not effective on an empty stomach.’ With minimal access to anti-retro viral drugs in Zimbabwe things are set to be even worse for those infected with the virus.

Meanwhile opposition officials continue to complain about the use of food to bribe rural villagers ahead of rural council elections at the weekend. Chiefs are said to be taking a leading role in implementing this ‘food for votes’ scheme.