CRS emergency response to famine in Southern Africa

Social justice news
August 2002

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CRS in emergency response to drought and famine in southern Africa
In response to the worsening food crisis in southern Africa, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has committed an additional $277,735 to provide emergency assistance across the region. In Malawi, where more than three million people are threatened with food shortages following the second consecutive season of crop failure, CRS is working with its local Caritas partner agency to distribute monthly rations of maize to more than 39,000 people. This effort is scheduled to continue through April 2003, part of a region-wide agency plan to assist vulnerable families across southern Africa, where an estimated 13 million people are at risk.

"We are racing against the clock," said John Donahue, Catholic Relief Services Regional Director for Southern Africa. "The overdue rains may come in a matter of months, which will wash out many of the roads leading to the isolated villages in need. If we don't get food pre-positioned in these villages right away, we're going to have serious logistical problems getting it there at all."

Many factors, including well-below average rainfall, flooding, disruptions to commercial farming, depleted grain reserves, high maize prices, high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and chronic malnutrition have already forced hundreds of thousands of people throughout the region to rely on food aid for survival. The situation is expected to worsen in the next few months, as now scarce food reserves are expected to run out for many by September or October.

"It's important that people realize that while we have an emergency on our hands, this is not a short-term situation," Donahue said. "Dropping off food alone will not be enough. We need to help these vulnerable communities back on their feet, get their farms and crops up and running again."

CRS' emergency response to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Lesotho will include general distributions, supplemental feeding programs and agricultural recovery activities, including the distribution of seeds and tools, as well as seed fairs to promote local production of seeds in communities for the next planting season. CRS' response is being delivered through Church health associations and local Caritas partners.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 87 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

To contribute to Catholic Relief Services efforts, send donations to:
Catholic Relief Services "Southern Africa Food Crisis"
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

1-800-724-2530.

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