Emergency aid reaches over three million in Southern Africa

More than three million people in southern Africa are already being reached by aid agencies appealing together through the Disasters Emergency Committee. In the biggest humanitarian relief operation since the Kosovo crisis, British charities are working in all seven affected countries and getting food and aid through to the most at risk people. In Zimbabwe, the worst affected country, Save the Children distributed food aid to 150,000 people in the Zambezi valley in March/April and CAFOD is feeding 108,437 young children, elderly people and pregnant and lactating women. Since last July, CARE has been providing fortified porridge daily to 130,000 under-14s and since April has been distributing WFP maize to 203,000 people. In Malawi, Tearfund is supporting emergency food distributions to 21,000 people and Christian Aid have provided 16,490 families with seed packages for the dry season planting. Seeds and tools from Concern are benefiting 40,000 people. ActionAid have distributed maize to 75,000 people and seeds and tools to 75,000 households. In Angola, since September, Christian Aid has been providing 189,000 people with a variety of assistance including shelter and survival kits and seeds, tools and food aid. CARE are distributing WFP food to 250,000 internally displaced people and Save the Children are providing 30,000 children under 12 with food supplements and 60,000 people with food, household items, and health and nutrition support. In Zambia, CARE has been distributing 1200 MTs per month to 150,000 people in the most badly affected areas since June. CAFOD is supplying 18,000 people with maize between July and October and Tearfund is supporting emergency food distribution for 42,000 people. 70,000 people will benefit from an Oxfam distribution of seeds and tools and 20,000 from World Vision maize distributions. Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive of the DEC said: "The aim of the Southern Africa Crisis Appeal is to allow aid agencies to expand and continue their life-saving work for the next eight months as the crisis deepens. We have reached three million people so far, but as the situation worsens up to 14m could face starvation. We really need the continued support of the British public and I hope that these figures will also show them that we are effective in getting through to the people who need our assistance. " Political instability and three years of drought combined with flooding in some areas has led to massive food shortages in the region and up to 14 million people are facing the threat of famine. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique are all affected. The Southern Africa Crisis Appeal was launched last Thursday, uniting 13 leading British charities including Christian Aid and CAFOD. People can donate to the Southern Africa Crisis Appeal by calling 0870 60 60 900 (local call rates), visiting www.dec.org.uk or donating at any Post Office or high street bank. Cheques made payable to DEC Southern Africa Crisis Appeal can be sent to DEC Southern Africa Crisis Appeal, PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA.