EU humanitarian aid to the crisis in Southern Africa

Sommaire: July 15, 2002: Commission response to the Southern Africa humanitarian crisis (Brussels)

This note is intended to provide a factual overview of the European Commission's response to address the immediate needs resulting from the current food crisis in Southern Africa. The note concentrates on the response in the worst-affected countries: Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia(1). Through the EuropeAid Co-operation Office (€82 million)(2) and the Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO (€6.5 million), the Commission has so far provided €88.5 million in aid for these three countries. This figure includes 215 000 tonnes of food aid. The amount of aid is due to increase substantially by the end of the summer, including for other countries in the region, as further humanitarian and food aid decisions are approved. It is estimated that 300 000 tonnes, financed by the Commission, will be sent to the region this year. In total, the Commission contribution to the crisis will correspond to around 20% of the food aid needs estimated for the region. The Commission has been working with beneficiary governments for a number of years. As well as addressing immediate short-term needs and the current crisis in co-ordination with governments, UN agencies (particularly the World Food Programme) and other donors, the Commission is continuing to address the wider issue of food security through its development programmes. In this context, the Commission is also focussing on the long-term rehabilitation of the agricultural sector and is reinforcing policy dialogue with national governments to eliminate the causes of food insecurity in the region. It is important to stress the fact that the EU continues to work to address the alleviation of poverty in all its forms in developing countries. The Commission's experience with food security problems in the world has shown quite clearly that the best way to achieve food security is to implement a broad based policy for sustainable growth and poverty reduction. Food aid in kind is not an appropriate instrument to create long term food security. However, in certain situations, food aid remains essential for the most vulnerable groups of the population.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is the worst hit country in the current food security crisis in Southern Africa, facing the most important food deficit in the region. Drought, successive poor harvest, collapse of the economy, forces land acquisition, pre- and post-electoral tensions have made for a political and humanitarian crisis.

The EuropeAid Co-operation Office has responded to the current crisis with €18.5 million of food aid (approximately 30 000 tonnes). Another financing proposal worth €35 million (equivalent to 90 000 tonnes) is due to be approved in the coming days. Food aid provided by the Commission in Zimbabwe will continue to be exclusively distributed by NGOs, either directly or as implementing partners of WFP. In addition, on 17 June, ECHO adopted an initial financing decision of €2 million focussing specifically on hungry children and other vulnerable groups.

The Commission is also envisaging to contribute to a Foreign Exchange Facility, actually in discussion between the Government and donors, that could allow the private sector to play its role by importing food in the country, which is for the time being not the case. For further information: See IP/02/912 of 24 June and IP/02/689 of 8 May.

Malawi

Poverty in Malawi is widespread and severe, with the lowest per capita income in the entire Southern African Region (€215 per year). Many the major problems are much more related to poverty and therefore to income deficit of the population than to food availability in the country. The short, medium and long-term strategy currently implemented by the Commission has therefore been designed on the basis on an attentive analysis of the structural causes of the crisis, and with the aim to give a sustainable response to the difficulties the population and the nation are presently facing.

The Commission has responded quickly to the emergency appeal for intervention issued by the Government of Malawi. The EuropeAid Co-operation Office has responded with €12.5 million (equivalent to around 52 000 tonnes). A nutritional support equivalent to 15.000 tonnes are being distributed to the most vulnerable groups during April 2002 to March 2003 to an estimated 700.000 malnourished children and 350.000 pregnant and lactating mother. Furthermore, around 37.000 tonnes of white maize have just been locally purchased and will be stocked to the national strategic grain reserve by the end of August. This support will increase up to €28.5 million, with an allocation of €16 million within an urgent financial proposal which is currently under preparation, to purchase through regional or international procurement around 40.000 tonnes of maize to be free distributed to a targeted vulnerable population.

ECHO is providing an additional €1.5 million in support of Nutritional Rehabilitation Units, including the provision of Likuni Phala (blended food made of corn and soya), together with dried skimmed mile, oil and sugar, plus nutritional equipment, kits, standard forms, supporting drugs and medical supplies. This money is also going to establish a national Nutritional Monitoring System with the Ministry of Health and Population and to reinforce the Food Security Surveillance System, through the Ministry of Agriculture. More details can be found in IP/02/752 of 23 May.

Zambia

The situation in Zambia is being closely followed by the EU Delegation. The areas worst affected are the southern province and western region of Zambia. The current difficulties are exacerbated by the dramatic increase in refugee arrivals from Angola during the last months of 2001. Immediate food needs are covered by donors pledges but food aid could be sent by the Commission if needed. So far, ECHO has allocated €3 million for the immediate provision of water, sanitation and vaccination needs in refugee affected areas. Further humanitarian assistance decisions are possible. ECHO will specifically focus on assisting the early targeting of vulnerable groups.

Other countries in the Region

The situation in neighbouring countries (including Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland) is being closely followed by Commission Delegations in the region, by regular evaluation missions and close contacts with governments and other donors. Needs arising are and will be addressed by the whole range of instruments at the Commission's disposal (food aid, humanitarian aid and longer-term development aid).

(1) Detailed information on the Commissions €125 million package for Angola, including €32 million in food aid and €10 million in humanitarian aid can be found in IP/02/771 of 29 May.

(2) Including two new urgent financial proposals currently under preparation, worth respectively, €35million for Zimbabwe, and €16million for Malawi.

Ref: EC02-144EN
Source UE: Commission Européenne
UN forum:
Date: 15/7/2002

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