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U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-43202002-017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2002Contact: USAID Press Office
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) emergency response staff are currently visiting the most affected countries - Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe - to evaluate needs and the existing capacity to respond to the crisis. USAID will support and validate the United Nations food needs assessments of each country in the region and has convened a U.S. Government Inter-Agency Working Group to manage the U.S. Government's response.
Click for larger image- As an immediate step, the U.S. Government has responded by providing 95,000 metric tons of food assistance to the region, valued at $50 million. As an approximate measure, 95,000 metric tons of grain would be enough to feed 7.9 million people for one month. Of the 95,000 metric tons, 80,000 has been channeled through the World Food Program with the balance of 15,000 metric tons channeled through non-governmental organizations.
- The U.S. Government is also planning an additional $15 million worth of resources in the coming weeks (approximately 30,000 metric tons of food assistance).
- Estimates of food shortages and associated food aid requirements will be continually updated through food and crop assessment missions, which are now being undertaken by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program jointly, with the Southern Africa Development Community and USAID staff serving as observers. A United Nations appeal is expected to go out to donors in mid-June 2002.
- Although the approaching harvests (April-June) are expected to provide short-term relief, many vulnerable households will continue to require emergency assistance. Significant increases in the price of maize have undermined access to food for large segments of the population within the region.
- The severity of the crisis and the factors contributing to the drought are many and vary from country to country. Among the principal factors: drought, floods, disruptions to commercial farming, depletion of strategic grain reserves, and delays in the timely importation of maize.
- An early estimate is more than 7 million people may require assistance, but this number could be substantially higher.
Further Information Resources
View the Current OFDA Situation Report on the crisis.
Fact Sheet: U.S. to Release 275,000 Metric Tons of Emergency Wheat from Emerson Trust for Southern Africa Drought Relief
Background Paper: Famine
For more information on how you can help, and to learn about nonprofit organizations assisting those affected by this crisis, visit
InterAction's web site on the food crisis in Southern Africa
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