Crisis set to continue for some time, EU

There was growing awareness that the humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa was as much man-made as natural and could last for some time, said the European Commission (EC). The EC said in a statement that the crisis was more than "a mere cyclical accumulation of circumstances but, rather, a structural humanitarian crisis that may well last for some time". About 15 million people in six countries in the region face hunger due to a combination of drought, political and economic setbacks and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In response to the continuing crisis in Southern Africa, the European Union's (EU) combined contribution from the EC and member states had risen to Euro 412 million (about US $445 million) for the six most affected countries: Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland. The EU response covered about 40 percent of the total needs for the region, the Commission response included 277,000 mt of food aid. About six million people, including 3 million children, were benefiting from the emergency food aid assistance from the EC in the three countries with the highest number of people in need - Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. But there was a need to recognise that the humanitarian crisis would not be solved by short-term emergency responses alone. "Governments of the countries concerned need to firmly assume their respective responsibilities and address the underlying structural issues of poverty," the EC noted. The Commission added that it was feared that 2003 would be no better than 2002 in some countries. "The European Commission is particularly worried about the continuing rapid deterioration of the Zimbabwe economy and agricultural production and its negative impact on the entire region. Zimbabweans now represent half of the people in need of emergency aid in the region. This proportion will probably be greater in the near future, considering the gloomy prospects for the 2003 maize crop for this country, which may well be less than last year's crop," the EC added. The HIV/AIDS pandemic in Southern Africa was increasing vulnerability and hindering economic and social recovery. Great importance was also attached to close monitoring of the delivery of humanitarian assistance, especially in Zimbabwe where there have been several reports of politicisation of food aid. The World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to suspend its food aid distributions in Binga last year. The EC said it would continue to follow developments closely and was already preparing additional aid commitments for 2003. It would "continue to target its responses to the poorest and most vulnerable groups including HIV/AIDS victims, displaced persons and refugees".