National disaster declared

Swaziland has declared a national emergency, formally recognising the humanitarian crisis gripping the country and opening the door to further donor assistance. "On behalf of His Majesty's government, I appeal to the international community to assist and make whatever resources available, in order to respond effectively to the challenges the country is facing," Prime Minister Themba Dlamini told a press conference late on Wednesday. "The deadly combination of HIV/AIDS and poverty has produced a novel situation that has increased the vulnerability of families. The combination of these trends, and severity of the situation, leave no doubt in my mind that the Kingdom of Swaziland is indeed in a desperate scenario, which requires urgent national and international intervention," Dlamini said. The National Disaster Relief Task Force recommended months ago that the government declare an emergency. Task force chairman Dr Ben Nsibandze told IRIN: "Many international relief groups have urged this step. They have resources ready for our use, but to free them, they required a formal declaration of a state of emergency." About a quarter of the population, close to 250,000 Swazis, are in need of food assistance, while UNAIDS has ranked Swaziland alongside Botswana as having the world's highest HIV prevalence rate - about 40 percent of the adult population. The World Food Programme is providing food aid to 150,000 of the most vulnerable people. Announcing the national emergency, Dlamini stressed that the country's problems were due to natural calamities. The country's banned opposition parties have, however, pointed to government mismanagement, a feudal land distribution system - which also entrenches the power of King Mswati III - and the lack of a comprehensive AIDS policy. "I, together with cabinet ministers, conducted a tour around the (eastern) Lubombo region and the (southern) Shiselweni region, which are most affected. The situation is bad. Lack of rains has prevented many from planting their fields," said Dlamini. He noted that the health sector has been overwhelmed by AIDS, and traditional family structures were buckling under the combined strain of the epidemic, poverty and food shortages. "The severe drought that has hit the country for the past four consecutive years, combined with heavy storms during the past two months, has adversely affected agricultural production, and left many homeless," the premier said.