Possible El Nino may worsen food crisis

Already facing widespread food shortages, Southern Africa may still have to deal with the effects of a possible El Nino event. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), which consists of UN aid organisations and standing invitees such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Bank, warned in a press release that the region could experience further humanitarian crises. "The IASC stresses the importance of monitoring early warning information related to a possible El Nino event. If another weather phenomenon were to occur, erratic rainfall and other climatic shocks could further undermine crop production and food security within Southern Africa," the committee said. It expressed concern that a number of countries within Southern Africa would require a significant increase in humanitarian assistance in 2002. The IASC said: "The present food security situation in the region is the worst since 1992, when effective collaboration among governments, SADC [Southern Africa Development Community], humanitarian partners and donors averted famine in the face of a devastating drought. Today, 10 years later, the factors contributing to the crisis are numerous and vary from country to country. "They include: drought, floods, disruptions to commercial farming, depletion of strategic grain reserves, poor economic performance, foreign exchange shortages and delays in the timely importation of maize." Maize prices have increased dramatically because of the shortages, leaving large segments of the population in the region unable to buy food. "The crisis is compounded by the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Inadequate food availability and consumption places an even greater strain on those affected by HIV/AIDS and the family members struggling to care for them. HIV/AIDS increases household vulnerability to food insecurity by disproportionately affecting working age people," the IASC said. Consequently, the impact of HIV/AIDS on the incomes and purchasing power of households was severe. It also "adds to the disease burden (tuberculosis, cholera and others) that the population faces along with the food insecurity," the committee said. While the April-June harvest season should provide short-term relief for some of the 2.7 million people currently in need of food aid, the IASC warned that "the food security situation in the second half of 2002 and into early 2003 is expected to significantly worsen in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe". Households in parts of Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland were also experiencing serious food shortages. The IASC said some 125,000 refugees in Malawi and Zambia depended on food aid for their survival. IRIN has previously reported that the 117,000 refugees in Zambia have only been receiving half rations so far this year due to funding and logistical problems. The IASC said joint assessment missions would be conducted in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe during April and May. The aim would be to "qualify the dimensions of the humanitarian crisis". "The IASC expresses its commitment to work with affected governments and regional partners on multi-sectoral assessments of needs, the design of appropriate response strategies and in ensuring effective coordination of all interventions, including logistics related to the delivery of urgently needed relief cargo," the committee said. The international donor community was also urged to "help prevent the current crisis from becoming a humanitarian disaster".