Positive start to SADC�s P26bn El Nino appeal
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday July 27, 2016 13:55
The southern African region experienced its worst drought in 35 years in the recent farming season, pushing 40 million people into need, including 23 million requiring emergency intervention. Ten out of the 15 SADC states require humanitarian assistance, as the crisis has caused hunger, malnutrition and other health issues, power shortages and broader economic challenges for the region.
Shortly after Khama launched the appeal, in which he presented a dire assessment of the region’s humanitarian status, several representatives of donor states rose to announce their initial responses. Representatives from the United States, Britain, the European Union collectively announced interventions amounting to $501.4 million (P5.4bn), while the United Nations said an initial $41million had been released from an emergency fund.
“The US Agency for International Development announced $127 million in additional humanitarian and recovery assistance to people affected by severe drought in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho and Swaziland,” a statement from the US embassy reads. “With this announcement, the US has provided nearly $300 million in humanitarian assistance to the region.”
US ambassador, Earl Miller told the appeal launch that there were other long term plans to support the region. The US is aware of the impact on regional agriculture, food security, water, health and production,” he said. European Union head of delegation, Alexander Baum said while the economic bloc had ongoing programmes that were providing millions to the region in the area of human development, it would release an additional 60 million Euros to support the appeal.
A representative of the British High Commission said besides the support that was being routed through the EU, a separate 72 million pounds would be provided to the appeal.
“We are ready to provide additional funding in the next few weeks. This appeal gives us a common understanding of issues and we can come together to make sure we support the needs,” she said.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs El Nino coordinator, Timo Pakkala told Mmegi that the agency would hold a donor briefing in Pretoria today and launch an action plan designed to complement SADC’s appeal. “We have a UN document which supports the appeal and that plan identifies priority areas for support,” he said, on the sidelines of the appeal launch. “We have already held several events for donors within the UN for the global El Nino response and two special envoys on El Nino have been appointed to raise awareness. They are advocating globally for responses to El Nino,” he said.
Earlier, in launching the appeal, Khama said the drought was expected to worsen the region’s “already serious problem” of acute and chronic malnutrition, increasing risks of mortality among young children and the elderly.
“Steep food price hikes are already being experienced due to poor grain production and the depreciation of regional currencies against the US dollar,” he said.
Of the SADC member states most affected by the El Nino driven drought, Botswana is the only country that will self-finance its humanitarian efforts. At least 57,000 Batswana, all of them in the rural areas, are in need of assistance after a disastrous cropping season.