U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
SOUTHERN AFRICA - Complex Food Security Crisis
Situation Report #2, Fiscal Year (FY) 2003    October 18, 2002
Note: the last situation report was dated October 4, 2002.


BACKGROUND

A number of Southern African countries are currently experiencing food
security crises, due to a combination of adverse climate conditions for
two consecutive growing seasons, mismanagement of grain reserves, and
restrictive government policies that severely inhibit private sector
commerce. During the past production season, unusually dry conditions
extended across much of the region, from southern Zambia eastward to
southern Mozambique, resulting in crop failures and limited production in
many areas. Normally, food stocks carried over from the previous year and
the intra-regional trade of surplus commodities help to offset production
shortfalls. This year, however, regional stocks are exceptionally low, as
they were drawn down to fill the previous year's food shortages, and
surplus commodities within the region are limited. Zimbabwe is facing a
serious humanitarian crisis, with nearly half the population at risk.
Humanitarian food crises also exist in Malawi and Zambia. Poor and
vulnerable households in Swaziland and Lesotho and some parts of
Mozambique also require food assistance. The governments of several
countries have declared national disasters due to actual and anticipated
food shortages, including Malawi (February 27), Lesotho (April 22),
Zimbabwe (April 30), and Zambia (May 28). In July, the U.N. issued a
regional Consolidated Interagency Appeal (CAP) to meet the food and
non-food emergency humanitarian needs in Southern Africa. The U.N.
appealed for $611 million from donors, including $507 million for food aid
through the U.N. World Food Program's (WFP) Emergency Operation (EMOP).
Since the beginning of 2002, in response to the food security crisis, the
U.S. Government (USG)  has provided or pledged more than $276 million in
humanitarian assistance through the U.S. Agency for International
Development's (USAID) Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) and the Office
of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA). The majority of the humanitarian assistance has
been emergency food relief provided by USAID/FFP.


NUMBERS AT A GLANCE - POPULATIONS IN NEED
SEPTEMBER 1, 2002 TO MARCH 31, 2003

                               Max Percentage
                               of Total
             Max Number of     (Country/Region)
             Population        Population
             in Need(1)        in Need(1)

Zimbabwe       6,700,000           49%
Malawi         3,300,000           29%
Zambia         2,900,000           26%
Lesotho          650,000           30%
Mozambique       590,000            3%
Swaziland        270,000           24%
Total         14,400,000           25%

1 Anticipated populations and food aid needs are based on SADC FANR
assessments released on September 16, 2002. (Numbers are rounded.)

Total USG Humanitarian Assistance provided, to date   $276,029,550
Total USG Food Aid provided, to date, in Metric Tons (MT)   499,193



CURRENT SITUATION

Latest Shipment of U.S. Food Aid to the Region. The Noble Star, with 2,580
MT of oil and 9,500 MT of beans, is scheduled to arrive in Southern Africa
on October 21. The Pavil Valivo will arrive at the end of the month with
4,700 MT beans and 2,700 MT of oil. The Liberty Sun is expected to arrive
in the region on November 15, with 58,250 MT of corn. The arrival of these
three ships will bring the total tonnage delivered to the region to
approximately 338,000 MT.

Update on the WFP Emergency Operation (EMOP).  On October 14, WFP reported
that 40 percent of the EMOP (403,804 MT) had been funded. Approximately 62
percent of contributions so far are from the USG.  WFP is facing a
shortfall in pledges of approximately $318 million for the entire EMOP. To
date, WFP has distributed more than 106,000 MT of food assistance in the
region. This amount does not include distributions to Swaziland and
Lesotho, for which information is pending.

Controversy Over Biotech-Derived Food Aid. Some governments in Southern
African have expressed concerns about biotech food aid. The Government of
the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) continues to reject biotech- derived food aid
due to health and environmental concerns. The Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ)
has stated that it will accept biotech-derived food assistance, provided
it is quarantined and milled before distribution.  The governments of
Mozambique and Malawi have expressed concerns over the environmental
effects of biotech food, but are accepting such food aid as long as it is
milled before distribution. Swaziland and Lesotho have continued to accept
all relief food aid of biotech origin, provided it is milled.

Food Insecurity and Health. According to a September 24 U.N. assessment
report, HIV/AIDS has significantly contributed to the food security crisis
in Southern Africa. More than 20 percent of adults in the six affected
countries are infected with HIV. The Joint United Nations Program on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)  estimates that there are 4.2 million AIDS orphans in
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Swaziland. In addition
to decreasing agricultural productivity through the death and illness of
workers, the virus has forced children to leave school and burdened
families and health systems.

On October 7, the World Health Organization (WHO)  warned that thousands
of people could die in Southern Africa as a result of the combination of
disease, hunger, and a lack of medical facilities unless money is raised
for urgent health care. According to WHO, an increase from the current
average government spending amounts of 35 cents per person to $3.40 per
person could prevent hundreds of thousands of disease-related deaths. In
Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, and Swaziland approximately 300,000
malnourished people could die of diseases preventable with a minimum of
food and basic health care.


COUNTRY UPDATES

Zimbabwe. Since February 2002, WFP has distributed 50,149 MT of emergency
food assistance to over one million vulnerable Zimbabweans. WFP plans to
increase distributions to 34,000 MT in order to reach 2.2 million
beneficiaries in 28 districts by the end of October.

In order to overcome distribution obstacles created by the GOZ's concerns
over biotech food commodities, on September 27, WFP, the Grain Marketing
Board (GMB), and the Ministry of Public Works, Labor and Social Welfare
signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the swap of 17,500 metric tons
(MT) of U.S.-donated corn for GMB stocks.

In contrast to October 6 media reports in which Zimbabwe's Land Minister
Joseph Made stated that the country had a "maize deficit" but was not
experiencing a famine, WFP reported that there are critical needs for food
assistance throughout the country. In Matabeleland, people who are not
receiving food assistance are eating wild fruit, and in Manicaland
Province many have resorted to eating potentially poisonous yams. In
addition, WFP monitors report that many adults are only consuming tea in
some areas.

According to aid workers in the region, the GOZ's monopoly on grain sales
is compounding the food security crisis. On October 11, the U.S.
Ambassador to the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Tony
Hall, warned that Zimbabwe would face a "major famine" unless the GOZ
clears bureaucratic roadblocks preventing the importation of donated food
commodities.  Ambassador Hall also heard testimony that the GOZ has
refused to sell grain to opposition supporters and in areas marked by
opposition support.

According to WFP, approximately 90 percent of the 300,000 Zimbabweans who
were given land by the GOZ under the current land reforms still lack farm
inputs.  Although the new farming season starts in October/November,
according to agriculture officials, few farmers have begun preparing for
the 2002/2003 rainy season. In addition, the majority of the country's
commercial farmers are not preparing to plant as a result of GOZ evictions
or notices of eviction. According the Famine Early Warning Systems Network
(FEWS NET), 94 percent of farmers do not have seeds for the upcoming
season, which has grave implications for food security in Zimbabwe.

Malawi. According to humanitarian reports, food commodities for Malawi
have been held up at Nacala Port because of the Government of Malawi's
(GOM)  inability to meet milling costs. Delays have also been attributed
to infrastructure damage and port congestion.  Resulting food insecurity
is compounding the country's already alarming health situation. According
to a WHO assessment of health conditions in 10 districts in Malawi, the
number of new tuberculosis (TB) cases more than doubled during the first
six months of 2002. In addition, Malawi experienced one of its worst
cholera epidemics in 2002.

Zambia. WFP has 10,800 MT of food commodities available for Zambia for the
next two months, which will meet only 25 percent of the need. Compounding
the food security crisis, according to South African media reports on
October 6, Zambia rejected an offer by the Government of South African
(RSA) to mill 60,000 MT of biotech corn currently stored in Durban. The
GRZ has also rejected 100,000 MT of South African maize offered by the
RSA. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has alleged that the Southern
African region is receiving exclusively biotech corn from the United
States. In rejecting the food aid, President Mwanawasa reportedly stated
that although many people in Zambia are hungry, "they are not starving."
However, the U.N. estimates that approximately 2.5 million people in
Zambia are at risk of starvation. According to WFP, the future of the
cereal pipeline in Zambia is dependent upon the outcome of the GRZ's
decision on biotech food assistance.

In late September, local residents in Southern Province undertook the
unauthorized distribution of WFP-donated corn in defiance of the GRZ's ban
on the distribution of products that might contain biotech product. Some
of the villagers involved stated that they were aware of the GRZ
statements concerning the corn but were desperate.  Zambian media sources
reported a similar incident on October 16 where villagers in Mumbwa took
500 bags of corn that the GRZ would not allow to be distributed.

According to UNICEF estimates, 3,000 children per month in Zambia's 17
most-affected districts will require therapeutic feeding for severe
malnutrition; another 7,000 children per month will require supplementary
feeding.  A rapid health assessment of the worst affected districts in the
Southern Province was conducted by the National Health Authorities,
supported by WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), from
September 24 to 30. The assessment reported extremely high rates of
pellagra and micronutrient deficiencies indicative of a general food
shortage. Clinical malnutrition among children was also reported. The
assessment highlighted that access to water is an area of concern, since
communities were found to be an average of three miles farther away from a
water source than in January 2002.

Mozambique. According to WFP, the food pipeline for Mozambique is
sufficient to meet 100 percent of the country's needs until the end of
December. Additional food aid contributions will be required to maintain
the pipeline after December.

Lesotho. WFP reported that the food pipeline for Lesotho is sufficient
until early 2003, with no interruptions in distribution predicted. In
mid-October, WFP plans to distribute 260 MT of seeds procured by FAO.

Swaziland. According to WFP, the food aid pipeline for Swaziland is
complete until mid-February. However, Swaziland's National Vulnerability
Assessment Committee (VAC) found that 80 percent of households nationwide
lack seeds for the planting season. In the Lowveld, nearly 100 percent of
households lack seeds. In response, the Baphalali Swaziland Red Cross
Society and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies plan to distribute seeds and fertilizer to 5,000 households.

Namibia. On October 10, the Government of Namibia (GON) announced plans to
begin food distributions to approximately 345,000 beneficiaries in
drought-affected regions. According to the Namibian Emergency Management
Unit (EMU), the distribution of 30,000 MT of food commodities began four
days later. Although Namibia has not declared a disaster, in September,
the GON responded to the drought by approving $13.5 million for the
procurement food commodities.  Assistance from international aid agencies
is contingent upon a disaster declaration by the GON.



USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Since the beginning of 2002, the USG has provided or pledged more than
$276 million in emergency humanitarian assistance in response to the food
security crisis.

USAID/OFDA has provided more than $10 million in non-food programs that
are currently underway in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Lesotho.
USAID/OFDA has also provided $1 million to WFP to assist with its regional
management and logistics coordination. USAID/OFDA continues to address
needs in water and sanitation, coordination, nutrition, and health,
particularly preparing for outbreaks of endemic and opportunistic
diseases.

In addition to emergency humanitarian efforts for the food security crisis
in Southern Africa, USAID programs are designed to reduce the risk of
future crises through the Agricultural Initiative to Cut Hunger in Africa.
The objective of the Initiative is to promote rapid and sustainable
increase in agricultural growth and rural incomes in sub-Saharan Africa by
advancing scientific and technological applications that will raise
agricultural productivity, create agriculture-based enterprises, and
improving the agricultural trade and market systems.

In response to the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Southern Africa
region, USAID's Africa Bureau (USAID/AFR) is supporting HIV/AIDS
prevention, control, care, and support initiatives, as well as programs
for HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children throughout the region.
USAID/AFR also supports a regional HIV/AIDS program in Southern Africa
that focuses on regional cross-border activities.

USAID is also sponsoring the SADC Regional Workshop on the Safety of
Biotech Maize in Food Aid in Gaborone, Botswana in November. Participants
will include technical experts from around the world, along with technical
advisors and policymakers from the affected countries. The meeting will
address the technical and policy issues related to biotech corn in food
aid.



U.S. GOVERNMENT HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
SOUTHERN AFRICA FOOD SECURITY CRISIS

Country
Agency
Implementing Partner
Sector Description
Amount


Lesotho

USAID/OFDA

U.S. Embassy in Lesotho
Agriculture
$20,000

USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance:  27,760 MT
$14,162,907

TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO LESOTHO   $14,182,907




Malawi

USAID/OFDA

USAID/Malawi
Supplementary Feeding
$25,000

USAID/OFDA
UNICEF
Emergency Nutrition
$1,099,800

USAID/OFDA
Malawian Red Cross
Health
$100,000

USAID/OFDA
CARE
Agriculture
$772,552

USAID/OFDA
World Vision
Agriculture
$1,172,600

USAID/OFDA
CRS
Agriculture
$645,172

USAID/OFDA
WHO
Cholera Response and Prevention
$825,866

USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance:  97,645 MT
$51,035,612

Total USAID   $55,676,602


USDA
WFP
Section 416(b) Food Assistance: 3,000 MT
$1,243,382

TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO MALAWI   $56,919,984




Mozambique

USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance: 19,790 MT
$10,703,251

TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO MOZAMBIQUE   $10,703,251




Swaziland
USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance: 15,242 MT
$8,292,754

TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO SWAZILAND
$8,292,754
Zambia
USAID/OFDA
U.S. Embassy in Zambia
Transportation Logistics
$50,000

USAID/OFDA
CARE
Agriculture
$611,308

USAID/OFDA
CLUSA
Agriculture
$249,383

USAID/ODFA
World Vision
Agriculture
$627,869

USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance:   24,100 MT
$12,050,000

Total USAID   $13,588,560

USDA
WFP
Section 416(b) Food Assistance: 15,000 MT
$7,093,354

TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO ZAMBIA   $20,681,914


Zimbabwe
USAID/OFDA
UN OCHA
Field Coordination
$100,000

USAID/OFDA
UN OCHA
IDP Advisor and Monitor
$231,525

USAID/OFDA
CARE
Agriculture
$945,242

USAID/OFDA
World Vision
Agriculture
$549,072

USAID/OFDA
CRS
Agriculture/Nutrition
$1,099,822



USAID/FFP*
WFP
P.L. 480 Title II Food and Emerson Trust Assistance: 118,696 MT
$61,066,026

USAID/FFP*
World Vision
P.L. 480 Title II Food Assistance: 19,710 MT
$11,744,001

Total USAID   $75,735,688

USDA
WFP
Section 416(b) Food
Assistance: 8,500 MT
$4,958,052


TOTAL USG ASSISTANCE TO ZIMBABWE   $80,693,740


Regional Support

USAID/OFDA
WFP
Regional Management and
Logistics Coordination
$1,000,000


Region (Country allocation to be finalized)

USAID/FFP*
TBD
Emerson Trust: 149,750 MT
$83,555,000


SUMMARY OF USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

USAID/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)   $10,125,211
USAID/Office of Food For Peace (FFP)*   $252,609,551
USAID Total   $262,734,762
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Total   $13,294,788
TOTAL USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, TO DATE   $276,029,550

* Note: USAID/FFP values are estimates. Commodities may be reallocated as
required to meet changing needs.


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