Lilongwe, Malawi … On Sunday 12 June 2016, the Nation Newspaper Sunday edition blasted this warning across its front page in large black letters; MORE CAUGHT IN THE JAWS OF HUNGER.
This is nothing new to village people who are suffering from the intense famine caused primarily by too little rain in some areas, too much rain in others, the devaluation of the Kwacha that dropped it to half its pre-devaluation value, and the failure to have adequate funds, or resources to plan an escape from the oncoming problem.
Estimates earlier in the year, by the government of 2.8 million people facing starvation were seriously underestimated. Even that figure, for a nation of slightly less that 18 million, bought a declaration of a State of Emergency. The most current estimates, that of 8.4 million facing a food shortage, at the least a full 39% of the total population of the nation signals a catastrophic situation looming just over the horizon, if aid is not forthcoming.
The Malawi Project, Universal Aid, and World Emergency Relief have teamed up with their contributors in an attempt to stem the tide of suffering in a number of districts in Malawi. Food is being purchased locally when possible, while 40-foot trailers of food are being sent from the U.S. to arrive in Malawi and feed those most vulnerable. The Project is not new to this type situation because of its efforts and network of support during the 2002-03 famine when over a million dollars in food assistance was made available to the country.