WFP SAYS HUNGER SITUATION IN MALAWI GETTING WORSE: APPEALS FOR HELP

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has come out of its cocoon and speaks out on the hunger situation in the country, saying the situation is getting worse day in day out.

In a statement released on Wednesday made available to FaceofMalawi signed by WFP Country Representative Coco Ushiyama said the UN organization is urgently looking for money amounting to US$38 million to help over 3 million Malawian families affected by hunger.

In the statement, WFP said the organization is extending its relief aid by a month following the report by Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee that annual harvests will be delayed by El Niño-related drought across southern Africa.

According to the statement, WFP says many farmers who would normally harvest their maize in March will only be able to do so in April.

“New contributions are urgently needed to ensure people get the assistance they need to make it through this period,” says WFP Country Representative Coco Ushiyama. “Given the unusually high food prices in the country, WFP will also further explore regional and international food procurement options.”

WFP and its partners have provided food and cash assistance since last October to help alleviate the country’s worst food insecurity in a decade, reaching some 2.4 million people with life-saving food and cash assistance in 24 of the country’s 28 districts.

The operation is being scaled up this month to include an additional 32,000 people identified by MVAC as in need of food assistance. Further assessments are planned as needs are set to increase further with forecasts anticipating a reduced harvest because of El Niño.

WFP and its partners are also providing complementary recovery and resilience-building support to help vulnerable families. This includes linking people to productive asset creation and helping to enhance childcare and nutrition practices. Community messaging is provided to promote better dietary practices as well as providing information on gender, safety and other protection issues.

Meanwhile right activist are pressuring President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to declare the country a state of emergency on hunger.