The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised concerns over severe food shortages and rising hunger in Angola as the country is gripped by its worst drought in nearly four decades.
It is understood that Angola’s rainy season, which normally runs from November to April, is delivering a trickle of the rainfall needed to grow a good crop and raise healthy livestock.
The abnormal dryness is adversely affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the country’s southwestern provinces.
WFP spokesman Tomson Phiri said Angola’s water shortage was damaging crops, with losses of up to 40 percent, adding that lack of grazing land risks decimating people’s livestock.
‘WFP is extremely concerned, given the chronic food insecurity and malnutrition rates in the worst- affected areas’, Phiri said.
‘The situation is also reportedly giving rise to migratory movements, with families moving towards other provinces and across the border into Namibia’.
The rainy season in the country which normally runs from November to April has been delivering a trickle of the rainfall needed to grow a good crop and raise healthy livestock.
According to UNICEF, Angola has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world, with nearly 75 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Angola is moving toward being classified as a middle-income country. Therefore WFP does not provide food aid to the hungry in the nation. Phiri said the government was able to take care of its own people.
However, WFP provides technical assistance and expertise to improve conditions for the needy, according to Phiri.
He said WFP was helping the government expand its school feeding programmes, particularly in the south and southwest.
Source: VOA
Photo source: Suomalaiset kehitysjärjestöt – Fingo
