Crop season in southern Africa looks bleak as region heads towards crisis, UN reports

The crop season in much of southern Africa looks bleak, the United Nations said today, warning that more food aid is needed to avert a major humanitarian crisis in the region.

The worst-affected countries are southern Malawi, Swaziland, southern Mozambique, Lesotho, eastern South Africa, eastern Botswana and part of north western Zambia, with western and north western Zimbabwe in critical condition.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said it has increased the number of aid recipients to 12. 8 million people, up from 9.9 million. While the agency reported having enough food for this month, breaks in the aid supply are expected unless more funding is received.

The UN has appealed for $610 million to help feed more than 14 million people in southern Africa, but has only received $329 million so far. Major shortfalls in funding exist for projects aimed at improving health, education, water and sanitation and agriculture.