Malawi food security gap at K38 bn—FAO

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and Oxfam have called for more funding for the country’s hunger response programme to reduce the funding gap that exists in the current humanitarian crisis.

FAO’s call has come as the country’s hunger situation continues to escalate with a funding gap of $105 million (K38 billion), according to a recent situation report on the humanitarian response conducted by Oxfam, FAO and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Speaking during a press briefing at the end of a four-day visit to Malawi aimed at promoting Oxfam Scotland drought appeal for Malawi, head of Oxfam Scotland Jamie Livingstone said on Wednesday the funding gap for the humanitarian response is alarming and likely to affect the already impoverished Malawians.

FAO and Oxfam are some of the international organisations deeply involved in the humanitaranian response in Malawi where close to 6.5 million people in 25 of the 28 districts are in urgent need of food aid due to drought last year.

According to Livingstone, the country needs about $60 million for non-maize commodities and $38 million for cash transfer for which there is no clue as to where governments will get the funding.

“During my visit, I have met several officials including the Vice-President [Saulos Chilima] to talk about the humanitarian response gap. He has told me that government is doing its best to source money in order to bridge the gap,” he added.

“But donors who support the food security cluster have told me that all they want is for Malawi Government to put its house in order for them to map the way forward,” he said.

Livingstone said Oxfam Scotland launched an appeal for Malawi in July this year asking people and organisations to make donations and the Scottish Government International Development would match the first 70 000-pound sterling to be raised.

In an interview with Weekend Nation, FAO country representative Florence Rolle said the organisation is currently implementing activities in six most affected districts and is planning to go into other three or four additional districts, depending on final funding agreement.

“The identification of these districts is based on the gap between agricultural requirements and existing and planned support activities by the government and its partners,” said Rolle.

Meanwhile, an Oxfam Malawi hunger situation analysis report has faulted State grain producer and marketer, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc), for not being available to provide information related to maize stocks in the country.

Malawi country director John Makina expressed concern over Admarc’s absence at all the key meetings on humanitarian response so far.

“Admarc has been absent [to provide information] about how much maize stocks they have in their depots and they do not participate in key meetings to provide information related to their stocks,” Makina alleged.

However, Secretary for Disaster and Preparedness Ben Botolo said he could not comment on the allegations, because he has not yet seen the Oxfam report.