AIDS and drought destroying country - Church

The Anglican Church in Swaziland has described the country's combined crisis of HIV/AIDS and drought as a "tragedy beyond comprehension". Afrol News reported that the church alleged it had become the only hope for many, as the Swazi government remained inactive. Veronica Maziya, a representative of the Swaziland diocese of the Anglican Church, said some 20,000 of the country's people succumbed to AIDS-related illnesses every year. "The situation is a disaster for Swaziland. HIV has destroyed our youth and the future. We have been left with an orphaned country, and face a tragedy beyond comprehension," Maziya was quoted as saying.