Inside the fight to save millions of souls :: Mmegi Online

At least 10 of the 15 SADC states are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, with 18 million citizens in the region immediately requiring food aid. Launching the first global humanitarian appeal for the region in 14 years, President Ian Khama is leading an unprecedented battle to raise P26billion and save millions. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI goes into the trenches

As has oddly become the norm in his political career, President Ian Khama this week again found himself facing yet another ‘first’ unique to his tenure. In 2010, Khama became the country’s first to battle two commodity price-led recessions in his tenure and last year became the first to encounter a drought as deep as the 2015-2016 disaster.

This week, in front of an audience of donor agencies and diplomats, he became the first SADC chair since July 2002 to issue a global appeal for humanitarian aid. His appeal is also the most staggering in terms of numbers: P26billion required for 40 million people living on the edge of starvation, with 18 million of them requiring immediate assistance.

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