10/2/2006
From Malawi Better News

Malawi could be on target to produce its best harvest in nearly six years if rainfall patterns continue as they have over the last two months, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). This could mean that for the first time in four years, the country could turn its full attention to medium-term and longer-term humanitarian projects rather than only focusing on immediate needs.

Last year's harvest which was the worst in a decade and left nearly five million people in need of food aid, 2.8 million of them were children under the age of 18 years, according to UN reports.

“The Government, with the support of donors, should seize this opportunity to put in place development projects aimed at improving the lives of the poorest people, particularly children,” Mr. Morris, head of the WFP, said in Lilongwe at the end of a five-day visit to southern Africa.

The agency said donations from the international community prevented a humanitarian disaster. “The generosity shown by donors to support the people of Malawi has been overwhelming,” Mr. Morris said.

“Some of the challenges for the year ahead will be to reduce the high rates of acute malnutrition among children, tackle food insecurity issues, address water and sanitation problems, and help the many people who are living with HIV/AIDS, including nearly 500,000 orphans,” he said.

Mr Morris praised the Government's efforts to meet the food needs of many of its people through to the next harvest as well as its achievement in reaching nearly 38,000 HIV positive people with anti-retrovirals by the end of 2005 – a steep increase from some 4,000 people it was reaching in
December 2003.

The UN's 'Flash Appeal' for Malawi has received about $54 million of the $77 million needed.