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Malawians threatened by hunger
2005-10-19 08:14:03
By PACIFIQUE NKESHIMANA
Most countries in the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of Asia and Latin America are facing chronic hunger.
Speaking at the event to mark the World food Day in Roma, Italia on October 16, James Morris, the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director said that the number of people dying from chronic hunger and related illnesses is on the increase.
It was revealed that for only this year more than 6 million people have died of hunger and its related diseases.
The WFP Executive Director, with a very wrinkled face was heard saying that by the end of Sunday, October 16th ,2005 about 6,241,512 people would have died of hunger and related diseases this year.’
He also revealed that about 100 million hungry children in the world are currently getting no assistance.
Many people in the world if asked to tell which is the best enemy of humankind they tend to point a long worrying-finger to the HIV/AIDS pandemic saying that it takes more lives.
It is obvious that AIDS is killing many people in the world but according to the WFP report, ’hunger’ and its related diseases still claim more lives than Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined together.
In his speech, Morris urged governments, humanitarian aid organizations, and private sector aid donors not to forget the scale of the problem.
He said: ’The number of chronically hungry people is on the rise again, after decades of progress.
We’re losing ground…about 25,000 people die from hunger and poverty every day. This is a very huge number.’
Also, malnutrition is a serious problem in many parts of the world including North Korea, Haiti and Afghanistan, Malawi, Niger, Sudan and others.
Though, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most seriously troubled area, where conflicts and the spread of Aids have exacerbated the effects of hunger.
None can ignore that it is in Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and other places where some moving skeleton-people are seen.
This disaster can be attributed to many reasons, including among others drought and lack of task force to produce enough food due to the high mortality caused by HIV/AIDS.
The invasion of insects like crickets, the rapid population increases without forgetting the non-stop wars among people of the same nations are also major causes of hunger in Africa and other countries of the world.
Cuurently, hunger is troubling Malawi where about 5 million people are facing a food crisis. It is recalled that recently, the president of Malawi, Bingu wa Mutharika has declared a national disaster over the food shortages which are threatening almost half the population.
President wa Mutharika told the press that almost 5million of people from all 28 districts of his country are starving and they need humanitarian aid.
The Holy books and preachers say, ’ God’s first commandment is to love one’s neighbour as one loves thyself.’ Why can’t all countries of the world regardless of their degree of wealth assist fellow Malawians?
It is also believed that God accepts any kind of aid that one offers to the needy people…and also it is said that ’many hands are better than one’——
Remember, ’ a friend in need is a friend indeed.’ If I am not mistaken Malawi is a member country of both the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN)… so if fellow countries can’t help Malawi to save its people one wonders what kind of relationship they have under their umbrellas of unity.
According to media reports wa Mutharika said that the hunger crisis had worsened and the country needed more help.
He said, ’Malawi needs an extra 144,000 metric tonnes of food on top of the 300,000 tonnes expected to be imported from South Africa.’
It is through humanitarian aid that Malawians can be saved…. Please assist them…. Why can’t we all assist these people?
We have to remember that since we were all created by the same God and in the same manner, what happens to these people today might happen to us another day.
So why are we trying to give deaf ears to wa Mutharika’s cry for his people? All countries ought to treat Malawi’s case as a matter of urgency.
Help is what the Malawians need right now.
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