An emergency appeal has been launched Thursday by Tearfund for funds to provide food aid to the more than 11 million people throughout the southern regions of Africa facing acute food shortages.
Tearfund’s partners in the area have warned that the humanitarian crisis will worsen in the coming months if the international community does not act now.According to the UN World Food Programme the worst hit countries are Malawi, with 4.6 million in need of food aid, Zambia at 1.7 million, and Zimbabwe at around 3 to 5 million people facing severe food shortages.
Other countries also affected by an impending food shortage are Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.
“In the southern district of Chikwawa where we are working it has reached crisis proportions,” said Director of Relief and Development for Tearfund partner Living Waters denomination in Malawi, Victor Mughogho. “In some places as many as 70 per cent of households do not have enough food.”
Mr Mughogho said: “How they will survive in the coming months we do not know.
“We urgently need the support of people in the UK for funds but also for prayer. The people of Malawi are not sitting around waiting for help. They want to solve their own problems; it is just that their level of vulnerability is too high.”
The approaching famine has been attributed to failed rains in the region, but also underlying causes such as chronic poverty, weakened agriculture and health sectors due to widespread HIV and AIDS, political inertia and inappropriate agricultural and economic policies.We urgently need the support of people in the UK for funds but also for prayer. The people of Malawi are not sitting around waiting for help. They want to solve their own problems; it is just that their level of vulnerability is too high.
Victor Mughogho, Living Waters denomination, Malawi
The Christian charity has set aside £1.5million for its immediate response to Christian partners in the region already working alongside thousands of families.
