NYT/Reuters: Rich Countries Fail Africa on Food Aid: U.N.

Rich Countries Fail Africa on Food Aid: U.N.
By REUTERS
Published: October 26, 2006

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Millions of people in southern Africa face food shortages after rich countries failed to meet money pledges, the U.N. food agency said on Thursday.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said a $60 million gap in funds has forced it to cut aid to up to 4.3 million people in southern Africa.

That included aid to mother and child nutrition centers, school feeding projects and schemes targeting HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients, for whom nutrition is key in boosting immunity to diseases that have ravaged the region.

Namibia, Malawi and Swaziland faced aid reductions of between 80 and 100 percent. HIV/AIDS rates in Swaziland are among the highest in the world.

The shortages coincide with the coming so-called lean season, when southern Africa has to wait until March or April for new harvests....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-food-africa.html