The Southern Africa region is facing a food crisis of enormous proportions, and unless the international community increases its response immediately, there is the real possibility of a catastrophic famine, which will devastate communities and lead to the death of thousands of people, especially children. Save the Children UK believes that the following recommendations should be taken into account if the humanitarian response is to bring about widespread immediate relief to affected populations and long-term strengthening of food security in their countries.
- That the 'Issues of Concern' listed above be addressed immediately.
- A major operational commitment and a concerted effort, on a scale well beyond the response that has been applied to date, is required.
Action: All governments, UN, donors and NGOs.
- Due to the chronic poverty in the region, the immediate relief initiatives must be accompanied by activities that address the long-term issues of structural food insecurity in the countries affected. This would include the development of national food security policy frameworks.
Action: All governments, donors and agencies responsible for food security.
- All agencies should be responsible for ensuring that monitoring of access to food aid is taken into the households to ensure that people are not discriminated against due to age or gender.
Action: WFP and implementing NGOs.
- That national governments develop transparent response plans for the emergency, assume the prime responsibility for responding and ensure an operating environment exists that enables food to be distributed as rapidly as possible.
Action: All governments.
- Food security responses must acknowledge the longer-term impact of HIV on infrastructures and communities in the region and ensure that rehabilitation and longer-term food security and livelihoods responses are appropriate to the needs of HIV-affected families.
Action: UNDP, EU, DFID.
- Food aid programmes can undermine child protection. All parties involved in the food crisis must be proactive in acknowledging the risk and ensuring that appropriate activities and management mechanisms are built in to all plans and proposals
Action: All governments, WFP and other pipeline agencies, all donors and all NGOs.
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