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Millions at risk in southern Africa [Please leave original titles, thank you]
BBC On-Line | Wes. May 29, 2002 | Staff Writer

Posted on 05/29/2002 5:11:14 PM PDT by yankeedame

Wednesday, 29 May, 2002, 15:03 GMT 16:03 UK

Millions at risk in southern Africa

Basic food supplies have been destroyed by drought

At least 10 million people face starvation in four southern African countries unless the international community acts swiftly, UN aid agencies have warned.

We have to get the message out to donors - a famine can be averted if they act quickly

WFP regional director Judith Lewis A report jointly compiled by the UN World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation - one of the most comprehensive to date of the crisis - said that famine in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland is not yet widespread, but warned that urgent action is needed in order to avert a humanitarian crisis.

It added that once information is completed from two other southern African countries - Zambia and Mozambique - the situation would appear "even bleaker".

There are several reasons, the report states, for the current crisis, including drought, economic policies and, in Zimbabwe, the disruption of farming due to the government's controversial land reform programme.

The price of maize - southern Africa's staple food - has also soared due to drought affecting the crop in countries such as Malawi.

Situation urgent

Both agencies have called on international donors to provide supplies, estimating that southern Africa will have to import almost 4 million tonnes of food over the next year if it is to meet the needs of its population.

The WFP has estimated that the cost of such an international aid operation would be around $400 million, Reuters news agency reported.

"We have to get the message out to donors - a famine can be averted if they act quickly," Judith Lewis, WFP's regional director for southern and eastern Africa, told Reuters.

"Much needs to be done, and we need to do it now."

The crisis has been made worse by the high rate of HIV and Aids in the region, which has weakened the local population's resistance to disease and left them more susceptible to famine.

In addition, climatologists have warned that El Nino, a periodic warming of part of the Pacific Ocean, may well return this year, which could in turn lead to yet more floods and drought in the stricken region.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africawatch; famine; southernafrica; unitednations
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Well, gang, we all knew this was coming...and, of course, it's all because of the weather.
1 posted on 05/29/2002 5:11:14 PM PDT by yankeedame
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To: yankeedame
All together now:

We are the world...we are the suckers...

2 posted on 05/29/2002 5:13:51 PM PDT by Argus
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To: yankeedame
There's more than enough people here in the USA that I'd much rather be helping.
3 posted on 05/29/2002 5:18:10 PM PDT by firewalk
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To: yankeedame
As completely heartless as this may sound, there are some areas of the world where commerce cannot be conducted, gardens can't be grown, and people die at a young age from a variety of shortfalls in their lives. It's difficult to save them all.
4 posted on 05/29/2002 5:18:42 PM PDT by Glenn
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To: yankeedame
Well, to qoute a distinguished and dead American Sam Kinnison, "We've got deserts in America, We just don't live in them! Moooove! Oh Oh OHHHHHHH!"
5 posted on 05/29/2002 5:19:19 PM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
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To: yankeedame
Paging Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton... Paging Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton!!

Please pick up the courtesy phone. Line #1.

6 posted on 05/29/2002 5:21:00 PM PDT by michigander
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To: Glenn
As completely heartless as it may sound, there are certain areas of the world where Marxist dictators take control, destroy the people who supply the food, control and contain their enemies through starvation and beg the Western World to bail them out, so they can supply their cronies and only their cronies with food and money.
7 posted on 05/29/2002 5:23:43 PM PDT by Justanumba
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To: yankeedame
I suggest they look into the benefits of cannibalism.
8 posted on 05/29/2002 5:24:37 PM PDT by Ronin
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To: Justanumba
Bingo. If the European capitalists were still running Zimbabwe or South Africa there would be no food problem.

Let 'em rot.

9 posted on 05/29/2002 5:27:01 PM PDT by Ronin
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To: yankeedame
Remember
all foreign aid to Africa
(no, not most, all)
goes into the bank accounts
of the thugs that rule their countries.
10 posted on 05/29/2002 5:27:21 PM PDT by Nogbad
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To: yankeedame
Both agencies have called on international donors to provide supplies, estimating that southern Africa will have to import almost 4 million tonnes of food over the next year if it is to meet the needs of its population.

Both agencies have called on the United States to give away oodles of money and food to this bunch of fly fodder, estimating that one of the most agriculturally worthless areas of the world will have to import almost 4 million tones of grub over the next year if it is to feed the irresponsible, teeming hordes of chicken kickers. Of course if America were starving, nobody would know our names.

The WFP has estimated that the cost of such an international aid operation would be around $400 million, Reuters news agency reported.

They added that the lion's share of the burden would be borne by the hate-filled, imperialistic oppressors in the United States.

"We have to get the message out to donors - a famine can be averted if they act quickly," Judith Lewis, WFP's regional director for southern and eastern Africa, told Reuters.

"So send money. By the boatload, truckload, or by train. Fill boxcars full of American greenbacks and send them to me, Judith Lewis, the woman who has accomplished exactly jack squat toward averting these famines. This time it will be different and we won't use the money or food to prop up bloodthirsty warlords or to manipulate local politics. Really, we won't. Thank you imperialist running pigdogs."

11 posted on 05/29/2002 5:32:04 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: yankeedame
Tough love requires that we allow them to suffer the consequences of their insanity and corruption.

Until they see they can no longer escape from their weakness, corruption and ignorance - by begging for CONTINUED and fruitless bailouts -- they will make no attempt to become a viable and self sufficient society..

We and our government should stand back.....
Semper Fi

12 posted on 05/29/2002 5:44:56 PM PDT by river rat
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To: Nogbad
"The price of maize - southern Africa's staple food - has also soared due to drought affecting the crop in countries such as Malawi."

South Africas staple food supply disappeared while they were applauding Zimbabwes policy of killing white farmers and giving the farms to "soldiers" who had no clue as to farming.

Darwin award time.

This is not a disater of nature, this is man made. I have neen hearing the pleas of the starving in Africa since I was a child. With the billions of dollars that has been invested in that cess pool of a continent, you would think they would have learned how to feed themselves by now. I suggest they move to coastal areas and take up fishing.

13 posted on 05/29/2002 5:45:47 PM PDT by sarasmom
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To: yankeedame
- a famine can be averted if they act quickly

Well I, for one, am ready to step forward and make a difference. If the governments over there will supply me with a pre-paid shipping mechanism (i.e., FedEx or equivalent), I'll be more than glad to send over any leftovers I don't want, or that are no longer appetizing. Really and truly. No need to thank me, just doing my part....

14 posted on 05/29/2002 5:49:55 PM PDT by neutrino
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To: yankeedame
"We have to get the message out to donors - a famine can be averted if they act quickly..."
...Call right now, use your Visa card, and we will double that order.
NOW TWO FAMINES CAN BE AVERTED, but only if you act quickly.

Call in during the next ten minutes and we will not only stop two famines but (for a slight shipping charge) we will send you your own two starving families recently employed on successful farms in Zimbabwe and currently ready to add a new dimension to your everyday, humdrum, life.

Teach you children the value of caring for others, let them see first hand the benefits of a simple life (made possible by your own charity and deep seated feeling of guilt).

Act today!

Or not....can't these idiots understand that we've been conned before and just maybe we are tired of the experience?

15 posted on 05/29/2002 5:53:05 PM PDT by norton
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To: yankeedame
There are several reasons, the report states, for the current crisis, including drought, economic policies and, in Zimbabwe, the disruption of farming due to the government's controversial land reform programme.

Such BS. They should start by teaching their people not to bite the hand that feeds them. I hope they learn their lessons the hard way......

16 posted on 05/29/2002 5:54:57 PM PDT by Sungirl
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To: yankeedame
Well, gang, we all knew this was coming...and, of course, it's all because of the weather.

No, no, no. Well, maybe. But only partially.
It's really because of AIDS:

The crisis has been made worse by the high rate of HIV and Aids in the region, which has weakened the local population's resistance to disease and left them more susceptible to famine.

And we all know that's our fault for not providing the world with a cure instead of spending money on stupid ol' defense systems and such.

17 posted on 05/29/2002 6:00:45 PM PDT by reformed_democrat
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To: yankeedame
RE:in Zimbabwe, the disruption of farming due to the government's controversial land reform programme.
 
Murdering white farmers and stealing their property is a "disruption"?
Ah, newspeak.
18 posted on 05/29/2002 6:04:30 PM PDT by tomakaze
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To: yankeedame
Maybe they can eat the cruel, oppressive white farmers? All their fault anyway.
19 posted on 05/29/2002 6:04:56 PM PDT by Eternal_Bear
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To: Justanumba; Glenn
You're both correct.
20 posted on 05/29/2002 6:07:33 PM PDT by StormEye
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