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Red
Cross Red Crescent launches emergency appeal to fight food insecurity
in Southern Africa 19 October 2005 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today launched an appeal for 39 million Swiss francs (€ 25.3 million/US$ 30 million) to assist 1.5 million people in seven countries in Southern Africa for nine months. Due to the seriousness of the situation, 1.16 million Swiss francs have already been released from the International Federation’s disaster emergency relief fund to immediately scale up the operation, in particular focussing on food distribution in Malawi. The appeal will provide food, agricultural support and safe drinking water to people in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe who are affected by widespread drought and a food crisis. It is estimated that 10 million people in southern Africa are living on the brink of food insecurity. “We need to act immediately to avoid a tragic deterioration in an already alarming situation,” said Richard Hunlede, head of the Africa Department at the International Federation. “Urgent humanitarian action is needed in Southern Africa to assist people caught up in the triple threat of a rising HIV and AIDS rate, erratic rainfall and weakened government capacity. With food prices rising, many families are simply not coping.” An assessment by the International Federation in August 2005 found that people in Southern Africa most vulnerable to food shortages are people living with HIV and AIDS, households with orphans, female-headed households, people with disabilities and households headed by older people. The current food insecurity emergency is part of a worrying trend of an increasing number of households in Southern Africa becoming chronically food insecure. The International Federation appeal aims to meet the immediate food needs of 1.5 million people until the harvest of 2006, set up food-for-work projects, restore self-reliance in agriculture, ensure access to safe water, and train Red Cross staff in each country on livelihood and food security. “We need to save lives now and do what is necessary to protect livelihoods in the long term,” said Françoise Le Goff, head of the Southern Africa Regional Delegation in Harare. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: In Harare Tapiwa Gomo, Information Officer Tel. 263 4 705 166 /7 or +263 4 720 315 /6 Mobile: + 263 913 45936 In Geneva: Duty phone Tel. + 41 79 416 38 81 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. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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