World Vision appeals for assistance as 150,000 face severe food shortage

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

World Vision has declared an emergency response (Category II) for the drought situation in Angola.

 

This decision has been made following consultations and assessments with relevant government authorities as well as UNICEF in Angola.

 

angola_mapThe government of Angola has requested assistance in response to the alarming and increasing levels of severe acute child malnutrition and child mortality. Acute shortage of water for human consumption and dry season irrigation will continue to be experienced until October 2012.

 

“To those of us witnessing the situation on the ground, it is a human catastrophe. We are estimating that 150,000 people are facing difficulties as a result of insufficient rains thus crop failure in various parts of the country,” said John Yale, WV Angola National Director.

 

The most affected provinces are Huambo, Benguela and Huila.


A rapid field evaluation by World Vision in early May found out that the impact of low and poorly distributed rain has caused a 75% maize yield reduction or complete loss for the planted crops in Huambo, Benguela and Huila. Consequently, the price of local maize and other grains has increased fourfold.


It is also estimated that food security situation in the drought affected areas will deteriorate until February 2013. Child malnutrition will increase to severe levels. It is estimated that 101,064 children are currently suffering from acute levels of malnutrition in Huambo province alone.

 

World Vision will respond to this situation in partnership with the government and other agencies through therapeutic feeding and nutritional education in Huambo Province where we already have on-going operations. Another part of the response is investing in long term food production investments (irrigation projects and income generating activities).

 

World Vision will also expand the responds beyond its current reach to the (Huila and other provinces).


World Vision is among the few international agencies that have remained in the country after the end of the civil war ten years ago. Despite Angola’s enormous oil wealth and the International Monetary Fund’s forecast that GDP will grow by 9.7 percent in 2012, nearly two thirds of rural households live on less than 1.75 dollars a day.


“I appeal to the entire Partnership to pray for the affected people, especially children, but also help mobilize resources to support the response,” added John Yale.

 

World Vision Angola Contacts:

 

  1. John Yale – National Director – Cell (+244 912 501009/ 923 918534)
  2. Jonathan White – Operations Director – Cell (+244 931 796546/ 912 340308)

 

Southern Africa Region Contacts

  1. Hugh Greathead - HEA Director – Cell (+27 791280138) Skype hughgreathead
  2. John Kisimir - Communications Director (Cell +27 794995970) Skype - kisimir
  3. Goodson Murinya – HEA Advisor. Cell (+27 82 854 3880), Skype - goodson.murinye2
  4. Kenjiro Ban – HEA Learning Centre Advisor – (Cell + 27-72-516-3161) Skype – kenjiroban