After a year that has seen The Salvation Army responding to disasters throughout the world, including the South Asian tsunami, the hurricanes and mudslides that swept across the Americas and the South Asia Earthquake, The Salvation Army is again focusing on the increasing famine crisis in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa.
The International Red Cross describes the region as ‘currently experiencing a serious drought very similar to the one that provoked the 2002-2003 food crises’.
The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that close to 12 million people are currently in need of food assistance in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique. Recent reports paint a particularly grim picture in Malawi, where, Nellie Nyangwa (UNWFP) explains: ‘The situation is not as serious as Niger but if we let it go for another three, four or five months, it is going to deteriorate and will be like the Niger situation.’ In the worst-affected areas the rains failed at a crucial stage for the crops, leading to a total crop failure.
The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on UN member states to support and assist southern Africa in order to avert a potential catastrophic scenario. He urges: ‘Many of these people have battled the food shortages of the last three years and because of endemic poverty and the negative impact of HIV and AIDS, they have not had a chance to recover. Tragic experience has taught us that we cannot wait until the last minute to respond with humanitarian assistance.’
This is the fourth year of erratic weather and failed crops which, added together with extreme poverty and the effects of HIV/AIDS on the community, has left families destitute and children, many of whom are orphans, surviving purely on food aid.
The Salvation Army has a strong presence in the region. In Kenya, Projects Officer Marshall Currie reports: ‘Due to the failure of the “short” rains in the last few months of 2005, food shortages have become severe across many parts of Kenya, with some 2.5 million people directly affected. The situation is indeed serious, large livestock losses are being reported whilst rates of child malnutrition are also alarmingly high. The forecast is for poor “long rains” (May-June) which means that drought conditions may persist and worsen throughout 2006, and that is a nightmare scenario.’
In Tanzania, Lieut-Colonel Malcolm Forster tells of the increase in crime due to hunger, with what maize there is available being priced too high for the average family. Cattle are being exchanged for as little as six bags of maize, and household items for one tin of maize. Lieut-Colonel Forster reports his sadness at seeing members of his church and even Salvation Army officers within Tanzania being hospitalized, suffering from malnutrition.
International Headquarters of The Salvation Army has already sent $5,000 to the region to provide urgent relief to the worst affected and is currently exploring how it can best provide further assistance.
Major Cedric Hills (International Emergency Services Coordinator) says: 'Lessons learned from the recent crises in Niger and Sudan have taught the humanitarian community that we cannot delay until images of dead cattle or malnourished children fill our television screens. The people of this region need our assistance now, so we are sharing the story with The Salvation Army world. Our resources are limited and we are relaunching our Sub-Saharan Famine Relief appeal. We would welcome support and donations to our Sub-Saharan Africa Disaster Fund.’
IHQ Emergency Services
