AFRICA

Imminent famine and mass starvation is threatening millions of people across Africa. According to the World Food Program, 39 million people in 19 countries are currently facing exceptional food shortages. These figures are expected to rise further in 2003. In both southern and western regions, erratic rainfall, massive death of livestock and decreased annual harvest has put the weakest of people, mainly children and the elderly, at risk of starvation.

Comparisons are being made between this famine and the devastating famine of 1984-85. The number of people affected by the food crisis in Africa this time around is far greater. There are hundreds of people who are wandering through barren fields wrought with land mines, in countries such as Ethiopia and Malawi, searching for food and water to feed themselves and their families. Despite all of this, a tiny window of opportunity remains for the outside world to help ward off mass death by thirst and starvation next year.

Rains and crops have failed, drinking water for people and their livestock is scarce, many of their livestock have died or are dying, and malnutrition rates are increasing – yet the peak of the crisis remains a few months away. People are in need of immediate food aid and water. There remains a $700 million deficit in the U.N. appeal to supply food to these millions of people. Action is essential before people start dying in large numbers and before we start seeing pictures of skeletal children camped around therapeutic feeding centers. If the crisis is allowed to get to this point, it would have been a failure on the part the international donor community to take heed of lessons learned from the past and to act on credible warnings.

Islamic Relief has registered active field offices in Mali and Sudan. Following the drought intervention in the year 2000, Islamic Relief has been working to obtain registration in Ethiopia so that an office can be opened. In the meantime Islamic Relief has established partnerships with local organizations and other international relief organizations in the region. Islamic Relief has also established good relationships with local partners in Somalia, Kenya and Malawi.

In Malawi, a quick impact agricultural project, which began in October 2002, is still ongoing. This project is helping over 3,140 farmers with the provision of seeds and fertilizers, as well as constructing irrigation wells in up to 10 villages. In Kenya, the construction of a 15,000 cubic meter reservoir was completed in September 2002. This project provided water access to 5,000 people and their livestock for up to 9 months following annual rains in the remote village of Olla in Mandera.

Islamic Relief is currently exploring the possibility of undertaking various emergency water projects in Ethiopia. This will include water tankering, rehabilitation of existing but dysfunctional water points, shallow well construction, as well as the possibility of digging boreholes. In the upcoming year, there will be additional needs for projects in areas such as agricultural and livestock recovery. Discussions are also taking place with an international partner about possible co-funding of projects in Mauritania. This country has been largely neglected by the international donor community and is in great need of crisis aid and recovery