1 000s need food aid in Moz

2009-09-22 20:06

Maputo - Mozambique's National Institute of Disaster management (INGC) said on Tuesday about 275 000 people in the country need food aid after a long dry spell caused crop failure in some parts of the country.

"The southern provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane are facing food insecurity and we are working to feed some 275 000 vulnerable people; mainly the old, women and children," INGC director Joao Ribeiro told Reuters.

Ribeiro said the most vulnerable people, particularly women and children, were relying on aid provided by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) through the food for work programme.

"Right now we are drafting a plan to ascertain how much food is required given the fact that we are still collecting more information from the most remote areas," Ribeiro said.

Mozambique is expected to harvest 2.6 million tons of cereals this year, an increase of about 14% from last year. But poor rainfall, pests and high food prices in the northern and central parts of the country left many people in need of food assistance.

The government has said it plans to be self-sufficient in maize, wheat and rice output in the next three years and ensure adequate food supplies across one of the continent's poorest nations.

- Reuters