§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food shortages in southern Africa. [106006]
§ Clare ShortSix countries in southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi and Mozambique) have been suffering food shortages since late 2001. Food aid and other assistance has been provided to over 14 million people, half of these in Zimbabwe. This international effort has avoided a major catastrophe.
Harvests are due across the region in April 2003. Early forecasts are for variable but generally improved crops. If these forecasts are accurate, then there should be a significant reduction in the scale of the crisis in the region. While further assistance will be needed in Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland, there should be little need for food aid in Malawi and Zambia.
However, there continues to be a major crisis in Zimbabwe, where over seven million people are likely to continue to need assistance during the next 12 months. This is largely the result of disastrous economic management in the country.
DFID has provided over £106 million in response to the crisis since September 2001, as well as over £21 million as the UK share of EU assistance.