|PIC1|In the grip of a major hunger crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, Christian groups are zeroing in on providing relief as the U.N. secretary general makes an urgent appeal for food assistance.

A serious drought plus a "hunger gap" – lean time between one harvest and the next – are causing severe water and food shortages and driving up malnutrition rates among young children. More than 40 million people are in need of emergency food aid across 36 countries, according to U.N. figures.

Kofi Annan called U.N. member states to assist southern Africa, urging for immediate support.

"Tragic experience has taught us that we cannot wait until the last minute to respond with humanitarian assistance," he said

While rains have failed in the Horn of Africa – Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti – for the past two years, heavy rains that ended the four-year drought in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe last month have exacerbated disease outbreaks, displaced thousands and washed away newly planted crops.

World Vision called the various crises in the African region as "silent emergencies" that media have failed to inform the world about. World Vision's Southern Africa Communications Manager, Chantal Meugens, says the food shortage will continue until the end of March 2006.

|TOP|Meugens claims the "crisis has many roots." Government policies have severely disrupted commercial farming, the removal of government subsidies reduced support to farmers, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic has caused losses in agricultural labourers. Adding on to those factors are extreme poverty and erratic weather.

Currently, the Christian relief organisation is assisting nearly six million people in seven southern African countries, including those recently affected by the massive floods. Funds are being raised to help farmers replant crops, provide materials for temporary shelters and repair damaged homes.

The Salvation Army is also focusing on the famine crisis with USD 5,000 already sent for urgent relief and plans for further assistance.

Major Cedric Hills, international emergency services coordinator for The Salvation Army, drew lessons from the recent food crisis in Niger where as many as three in five households were left heavily in debt.

"'Lessons learned from the recent crises in Niger and Sudan have taught the humanitarian community that we cannot delay until images of dead cattle or malnourished children fill our television screens," he said in a released statement today. "The people of this region need our assistance now, so we are sharing the story with The Salvation Army world. Our resources are limited and we are re-launching our Sub-Saharan Famine Relief appeal."





Audrey Barrick
Christian Today Correspondent