Malawi facing worst food crisis in decade, requires $81 million in relief aid 鈥� UN agency
Photo: WFP/Dannie Phiri
People gather at Mikolongo school in Chikwawa district, Malawi, to receive rations of maize, pulses, oil and fortified corn soya blend from WFP to prevent malnutrition. Photo: WFP/Dannie Phiri
More than 2.8 million people will face hunger in the coming months in the worst food crisis in a decade in Malawi, where a staggering four out of every 10 children suffer from stunting, the 51吃瓜 World Food Programme () warned today.
鈥淧eople in some affected districts have already started selling their livestock to make ends meet,鈥� WFP said in a听. 鈥淲omen are also engaging in more firewood and charcoal selling, which degrades the environment and further aggravates the fragile climate.鈥�
鈥淭he agency said more than 2.8 million people will face hunger in the coming months following severe floods and drought that ruined this year鈥檚 harvest.听
鈥� 鈥淭he floods early this year were the worst in living memory in Malawi, washing away homes and food stocks, and ruining fertile land,鈥� it said. 鈥淪ome crops managed to withstand the floods only to succumb to intense dry spells in the following months, making survival even more difficult for the most vulnerable.鈥澨�
鈥淪ince the end of last year, WFP has provided relief assistance to avert hunger in households hit by poor rainfall during the 2013/14 growing season and the floods in early 2015. This operation has reached more than one million vulnerable people.听
鈥淲FP, which is financed entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, companies and private individuals, is less than 25 per cent funded for the $81 million relief operation that lies ahead.听
鈥淎dditional contributions are urgently needed,鈥� says WFP Representative for Malawi Coco Ushiyama.听
WFP also said a swift response is imperative to save children鈥檚 lives and prevent worsening undernutrition, particularly stunting among children, which limits cognitive development, and has far-reaching effects on health and productivity over a lifetime.听
鈥淎 recent Cost of Hunger in Africa report for Malawi estimated that stunting, which at 42 percent is among the highest in the region, costs the nation nearly $600 million annually,鈥� the agency said.听
鈥淭he WFP announcement comes a day after an appeal to the international humanitarian community made by the President of Malawi Peter Mutharika at the launch of the National Food Insecurity Response Plan on Monday.
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