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HIV/AIDS worsens crisis - Red Cross

    JOHANNESBURG
    The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Wednesday launched an emergency appeal to cover HIV/AIDS prevention and other southern African crises. The Federation said in a statement: "The interaction of HIV/AIDS, failed health care, poverty and food insecurity has created an unprecedented disaster which conventional intervention can not contain." It warned that the policies of donors, governments and humanitarian agencies would soon lag behind the region's growing challenges. "The appeal for US $10.3 million would strengthen the Red Cross safety net for some 347,000 extremely vulnerable people in the region through food security and integrated community care," the Federation added. Some 15 million people in six southern African countries were in need of food aid during 2003, mainly due to the combined impact of HIV/AIDS and drought.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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