Food from Japan for Africa
2005-01-04 16:55
Maseru - The government of Japan has decided to extend food aid to six African countries, including Lesotho, through the World Food Programme (WFP).
A media release from the Embassy of Japan in Pretoria on Tuesday stated that the six African countries eligible for food aid were the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia.
"The six countries are suffering from serious food shortages due to conflicts, droughts, poverty caused by high infection rates of HIV/AIDS and other factors. The funds will buy rice and other grain," the media statement read.
Lesotho had been hit by unprecedented drought, which had adversely affected agricultural production for the third year running.
The problem was further compounded by the high HIV prevalence rate, which stood at 31%, the fourth highest in the world.
- SAPA