Malawi's Food Crisis Worsens
Thursday, 27 October 2005
Malawi's Food Crisis Worsens
Malawi’s President Binguwa Mutharika has made appeal by radio and TV broadcast. The president said the food crisis in Malawi had worsened and the country needed more help.
After Malawi's worst harvest for more than a decade, estimates from the UN, are claiming that up to 5 million people will be in need of aid.
Mr Mutharika said all 28 districts of Malawi were affected by shortages.
"The food crisis has escalated and we need more assistance," the Malawian leader said. "We are facing a national disaster affecting the lives of our people."
The shortages are blamed on poor rains, a lack of seed and fertiliser during the planting season, and the effects of HIV and Aids.
It is not just Malawi which is threatened - across southern Africa, the UN estimates that 12 million people will need help in the coming year.
Concern Malawi are developing a new project in Nsanje, Malawi in response to a request by the Ministry of Health, for support to address malnutrition. This area is considered to be the worst affected by food shortages. It will involve providing technical support to Ministry of Health to conduct a Community Therapeutic Care (CTC) programme.
Concern will provide an advisory service to other organisations who seek support in developing CTC projects as well as the Ministry of Health.
