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S. African hunger

Last reviewed: 26-06-2007

Facing the Triple Threat


Millions face ongoing food shortages in southern Africa, with Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho among the worst-affected countries. The region's population is vulnerable to what the World Food Programme (WFP) calls the "triple threat" of HIV/AIDS, erratic rainfall patterns and weak governance, particularly in Zimbabwe.

  • Poverty is rife
  • HIV/AIDS fuels food insecurity
  • Long-term investment in agriculture required

    Southern Africa is in the grip of a food crisis that dates back to January 2005 when drought decimated the region's agricultural production, driving up grain prices. At its height, some 12 million people faced severe food shortages. USAID said at the time that the crisis was exacerbated by inadequate commercial imports of grain and a slow international aid response.

    In early 2008, parts of Angola, Madagascar, Namibia and Zambia were hit by floods that destroyed crops during their most critical growing stage. In contrast, Lesotho, Namibia, southern Mozambique, much of Swaziland and huge swathes of Zimbabwe saw crops wither away as a result of prolonged dry spells.

    An estimated 4 million people in Zimbabwe - nearly a third of the population - needed food aid in early 2008, according to WFP.

    Ravaged both by floods and drought, countries need to import large quantities of maize to feed their people. To make matters worse, global food and fuel prices have soared in 2007 and 2008, hitting countries which are most dependent on imports.

    An assessment by the International Federation of the Red Cross in August 2005 found that the most vulnerable to food shortages in Southern Africa were those living with HIV and AIDS, households with orphans, female-headed households, people with disabilities and households headed by older people.

    The region remains at the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. WFP has said that many in southern Africa are either too sick to grow food for themselves, or too poor to buy it.

    Humanitarian agencies say that long-term programmes to help farmers restore their livelihoods are required if the region is to recover.

    Key statistics


    Number of people malnourished (2001-2003) 36 million (FAO - The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2006)
    Proportion of malnourished in total population (2001-2003) 39 percent (FAO - The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2006)
    People in need of of food aid 4.3 million (WFP)

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    South African President Thabo Mbeki (R) is welcomed on arrival at Harare International airport by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe August 9 2008. Mbeki, the region's Zimbabwe mediator, is in Harare and ...


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