Federation to target aids-affected as food crisis worsens in southern Africa
2 May 2002

Following an assessment of needs in three of the most drought-affected countries in southern Africa, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today is launching an appeal for Swiss francs 6.8 million to provide support to 450,000 people in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe over the next twelve months.

“We expect that the situation will get worse in the coming months. The nutritional status is already very bad for many people particularly young children orphaned because of HIV/AIDS and the high numbers of adults who are infected with the virus,” said Dr. Guy Zimmermann, a Federation nutritional expert who was part of the Federation’s assessment team.

The Red Cross intervention will mainly target HIV/AIDS affected families and orphans, providing bulk food distribution and supplementary feeding at communal kitchens which will be established by Red Cross volunteers in the three countries.

Another focus will be on better food utilization, advocating changes in consumption habits and better nutrition to encourage a more varied diet and less reliance on the maize crop which has been devastated by the present drought. Specific health initiatives will be undertaken to tackle diseases which prove deadly companions to malnutrition including malaria, diarrhoea and HIV/AIDS. Water and sanitation programmes are a traditional strength of the Red Cross across the region and these will be expanded.

In Zimbabwe, the operation will focus on two districts, Zaka in Masvingo Province and Gwanda in Matabeleland. In Zambia, the programme will target affected populations in Livingstone, Choma and Siavonga districts in Southern Province. In Malawi, the focus will be on Chikwawa, Nkhotakota and Mchinji districts.

The proposed actions involve the distribution of some 7,000 tons of food and seeds, and other relief items, will build on Red Cross operations already underway. Already this year the Red Cross has assisted in the distribution of 1,600 mts of food in Zambia and plans are in place for the distribution of 4,800 mts in Malawi. According to UN WFP, 2.6 million people are already suffering from food shortages and millions more could join them in the months ahead.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Denis McClean, Head of Media Service Tel.: + 41 22 730 4428 / + 41 79 217 33 57
Solveig Olafsdottir, Regional Information Delegate Tel: + 263 91 345 936 (Harare)

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.