Numbers in need increase

The number of people at risk in Malawi's food shortage crisis has soared this month from 500,000 to 2.1 million, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. In a statement after his tour of Malawi, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, and WFP Executive Director, James Morris, said he was "greatly heartened by the clear commitment and relentless efforts of relief workers and Malawian communities". However, he warned that the "the magnitude of this crisis demands an even greater response over the coming months ... we have no time to lose - people have almost exhausted their coping mechanisms and the rainy season is upon us". Humanitarian efforts were only 57 percent funded, with US $62 million of the US $144 million requested still needed for food and non-food assistance. Aid agencies estimate that the number of people in need will jump again to 3.2 people million in December, when the crisis starts to peak. "While the food assistance programme has been stepped up and food is reaching more and more vulnerable people, the challenge now is to raise nutrition levels through a range of humanitarian responses, including agriculture, health, sanitation and education projects," he said. Morris arrived in Malawi on Tuesday - accompanied by Carolyn McAskie, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and technical experts from the World Health Organisation, UN Children's Fund, Food and Agricultural Organisation, WFP, and a representative from the Southern African Development Community - as part of a six nation tour to assess humanitarian needs and response. On Thursday, Morris said two significant developments would improve the logistical infrastructure in the region, bringing short-term and long-term benefits to Malawi and the region as a whole. The first was a newly approved special operation by WFP to repair the Nacala railway line, the only direct rail link between Mozambique and land-locked Malawi. Built in 1970, sections of the track have fallen into disrepair which worsens during the rainy season, forcing the trains to move at "a 10km/hour crawl" and creating a two-month backlog of freight. "I'm very pleased to announce that repairs can start very soon, as we have strong indications that donors will fully fund the US $5.6 million required," Morris said. The Canadian government had already pledged US $256,410 and there were promising signs that the Britain would come forward soon with a significant contribution. "The investment will quickly repay itself by providing US $1 million per month in transport savings. And more importantly, thousands of people will get badly-needed food aid even faster," Morris added. This follows an announcement on Tuesday of a US $7 million contribution to the Southern Africa crisis of 200 trucks and other equipment by the Norwegian Red Cross (of which 60 will be for Malawi), finalised on Tuesday by Morris and Jan England, the secretary-general of the Norwegian Red Cross. During his three-day trip to Malawi, Morris and mission members visited a number of projects in Dedza and Salima districts, which demonstrated the depth of the crisis and the complex responses needed to meet both the relief and recovery requirements of the country. The mission also saw numerous examples of the direct association between HIV/AIDS, the onset of communicable diseases, and poor nutrition.