Southern Africa Drought - Emergency Food Assistance - World Food Program 2016

February 2016 - The southern Africa region is facing elevated levels of food insecurity as a result of adverse climatic conditions and poor harvests throughout 2015 as well as the rain-suppressing effects of the ongoing strong El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean. Recent assessments indicate that more than 29 million people across southern Africa are facing some level of food insecurity. The vast disparity in the wealth and capacity of the individual countries in the region means that the impact is being felt differently by each one. Two of the worst affected are Malawi where 2.8 million people are affected and Zimbabwe where 1.5 million people need assistance. Project activities include: (1) general food distribution; (2) cash or voucher programming; and (3) cash-for-work schemes. With GAC’s support the World Food Program (WFP) is helping to meet the emergency food needs of up to 4.3 million drought-affected people in Malawi and Zimbabwe.

The expected immediate outcome for this project is improved access to adequate and nutritious food for drought-affected populations in Malawi and Zimbabwe. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crisis or that are facing acute food insecurity.