ReliefWeb

HIGHLIGHTS

Regional: Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania continue to supply maize to grain deficit countries. However, regional surpluses are not enough to cover these deficits in the different countries. Limited market and transport infrastructure is hampering the distribution of grain from surplus to deficit areas, thereby resulting in high prices. Cases of cholera and other communicable diseases as in the case of Angola and Lesotho continue to expose the fragility of the regions health infrastructure. Ahead of the rainy season, several countries in the region are undertaking Contingency Planning.

Mozambique: Approximately, 520,000 people are in need of emergency food assistance in the drought affected southern and central areas. According to the Agricultural Markets Information System (SIMA), this is due to the high costs of transporting maize from the surplus areas of the north and centre to the south. Prices are expected to remain high until next February when the green harvest becomes available.

Zimbabwe: The government has sought to import 400,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize from Malawi between May 2007 and February 2008. As of August, approximately 158,000 MT was delivered.

HIGHLIGHTS

Swaziland: The US$15.6 million drought flash appeal that was launched in July, to help the Government address the humanitarian situation is only 18 percent funded. Additional funding for food aid,

agriculture and nutrition is in the pipeline. Protection, health, water and sanitation components of the appeal remain unfunded.

Lesotho: The US$18.9 million drought flash appeal is 48.5 percent funded. To date, no funds have been committed for the child protection and early recovery components of the fund.

Namibia: The resettlement of flood affected people in Caprivi was completed in September 2007. According to the Directorate of Disaster Management (DDM), of the 6,000 flood affected people, approximately 3,000 people were relocated with support from the Government, while others' voluntarily relocated themselves back to their villages. The government together with the Namibia Red Cross provided tarpaulin, poles, and plastics for the construction of temporary dwellings. The DDM, along with the Caprivi Regional Council will be providing food assistance for the months of October and November to the flood victims in Caprivi.

Zambia: In the flood affected areas, an estimated 440,866 people will require food assistance estimated at 31,742 tonnes, from September to February, 2008. Maize exports are limited to 200 000 (MT) and therefore prices are expected to remain low for the remainder of the season.

Angola: Eighty nine cases of cholera were reported between 24 and 30 September, resulting in one fatality. A total of 16,731 cases of cholera were reported from January to end September, resulting in 435 fatalities. In 2006, a cholera outbreak that began in mid February and showed signs of abating in June, resurfaced in November claiming the lives of 2,584 people and infecting 63,200 people.

Madagascar: Results were released this month from the Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) that was conducted during May and June for the North West (Diana and Sofia regions) and South East (Atsimo Atsinana and Vatovavy Fitovinany regions. The main assessment findings indicated that moderate to severe food insecurity was the highest at 66 percent in the inaccessible north western parts, followed by 53 percent in the south eastern parts.

Malawi: Results from a nutrition assessment that was conducted in June in Karonga, Ntchisi, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts were released this month. The findings from the assessment showed prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) among children 6-59 months of age at 1.3% in parts of Karonga District, 0.6% in Ntchisi District, and 2.7% in the Chikwawa / Nsanje districts. To address this situation, nutrition supplies for a period of two months were delivered in September 2007 to all 95 Nutrition Rehabilitation Units.