Nairobi, Kenya
Church leaders in Malawi have raised concerns about the escalating hunger crisis in the south-eastern African nation, urging collective efforts to address the situation which has resulted in millions of people facing acute food insecurity.
The landlocked country, home to over 21.7 million people, is grappling with a deepening food crisis as a result of the devastating effects of El Niño, Tropical Storm Ana in 2022, Tropical Cyclone Freddy in 2023, widespread crop failures, currency devaluation, and inflation.
Prophet Milward Nyangulu, the founder of Synagogue Pentecost Church in Mchinji, is distributing food, including maize, beans, and maize flour to residents of Malawi who are facing hunger. PICTURE: Courtesy of Milward Nyangulu
The World Food Program has reported that approximately nine million people have been impacted by the hunger crisis. Currently, up to 4.2 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and this number is projected to increase to 5.7 million by March 2025.
“Malawi stands at a critical juncture as the country faces an escalating hunger crisis that demands immediate and concerted action,” stated the Catholic bishops in a statement on 18th September. “Over the past 12 months, the situation has deteriorated significantly, leaving millions of Malawians struggling to meet their basic food and nutritional needs.”
MILLIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA FACING WORST FOOD CRISIS IN DECADES, WARNS WFP
Millions of people across southern Africa are facing the worst food crisis in decades, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday, warning that its ability to provide relief risks being stymied by funding shortfalls.
Amid unprecedented drought conditions, a record five countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – have declared a state of disaster and called for international humanitarian support, the UN agency said. Angola and Mozambique are also badly affected and around 21 million children are malnourished.
“Unless we receive additional resources, millions of people risk going through the worst lean season in decades without assistance,” WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri told a Geneva press briefing.
The agency is planning to provide food and, in some cases, cash assistance to more than 6.5 million people in the seven hardest-hit countries to cover the period until the next harvest in March.
The WFP said, however, that it had only received about a fifth of the $US369 million it needed.
“Crops failed, livestock has perished and children are lucky to receive even one meal per day. The situation is dire, and the need for action has never been clearer,” said Phiri.
EMMA FARGE, Geneva, Switzerland/Reuters
The Catholic bishops have been aiding hunger victims by distributing maize flour, cooking oil, soya pieces, sugar, and other items. Their urgent appeal to the government, international partners, and local organisations underscores the critical need for immediate relief to those most affected by the hunger crisis.
“We therefore call upon all stakeholders, particularly the development partners, to intensify resource mobilization for African countries experiencing various humanitarian crises over and above humanitarian support in other continents,” they said.
Several other church leaders have also been distributing food items to help alleviate hunger in the population.
Prophet Milward Nyangulu, founder of Synagogue Pentecost Church in Mchinji, a town in west-central Malawi, has been distributing maize flour to thousands of families affected by hunger across the country.
Food aid is unloaded from a truck. PICTURE: Courtesy of Milward Nyangulu
Nyangulu mentioned that in addition to providing food, he has been offering prayers and counselling to the affected families, as many of them have been traumatised after enduring days without food.
“I want to urge other church leaders and well-wishers to come together and help families facing hunger and who have no means to save themselves,” Nyangulu appealed. “We need to be compassionate towards other people because we are all children of God. It brings joy to share food with others and make them happy, and to appreciate God.”
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Bishop Alfred Chaima, of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, and other church leaders from various denominations have been assisting thousands of families in southern Malawi to address the hunger situation.
The bishop is also leading other church leaders in mobilising communities to plant more trees as a powerful solution to combatting climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the church leaders are advocating for local farmers to embrace sustainable farming practices such as conservation tillage, crop rotation, and cover cropping. These practices not only help sequester carbon to enhance soil health but also play a crucial role in reducing water usage.
In March, Malawi, along with Zambia and Zimbabwe, declared a state of disaster due to the exacerbation of weather irregularities caused by the El Niño phenomenon. This natural occurrence disrupts rainfall patterns around the Indian and Pacific oceans, compounding the effects of climate change and leaving the soil dry.
“We are facing a severe hunger crisis in our country, and we appeal to all well-wishers to step forward and help us reach more people in need,” urged Bishop Chaima. “It is imperative for all stakeholders to unite and devise a sustainable solution to address the persistent issue of hunger in our nation.”
