Millions face hunger
2004-01-15 08:41
Cape Town - At least 15 million South Africans face food shortages after a severe drought said to be the worst in nearly a century.
Director for Disaster Intervention Toffee Mokgethi told the BBC the government would have to provide emergency food supplies by June.
Beeld reports that government is seriously considering extending its drought relief. Most of the R265m made available in December has already been used for supplying carted water, providing new boreholes and buying fodder for starving livestock.
Additional aid would continue to provide water and fodder. It would also be used to prevent drought-related diseases such as cholera.
Seven provinces are at present in the grip of drought and in need of drought relief. These are Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Western Cape and Free State. The Northern Cape might be added to the list this week.
Neighbouring countries
South Africa will have to use its food reserves to feed itself, sharply reducing its capacity to send relief to other countries in the region, the BBC reported.
UN agencies are no longer purchasing maize from South Africa, but has turned to American and Canadian imports instead.
The World Food Programme is feeding 4.5 million people in southern Africa, mainly in Zimbabwe. Many have had their meagre rations reduced and are living on half-rations.
Lesotho has lost almost its whole crop, while Swaziland, Malawi and parts of Mozambique are also affected by drought. - Beeld