USAID Response to the Food Security Crisis in Africa

From now through 2003, up to 35 million people in Africa will need food aid. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with its partners--the World Food Program, other donors, and the private voluntary community--to deliver up to 2.75 million metric tons of food to help meet this need. In addition, USAID is working with the governments to address longer-term structural problems through agriculture, health, education, and natural resource management programs.

Southern Africa

Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will be in need of humanitarian food aid between now and next year's harvest. Among the principal factors are drought, floods, poor policy, and economic mismanagement. A contributing factor is the debilitating rate of HIV/AIDS infection in southern Africa. The United States has delivered or pledged more than 500,000 metric tons of food aid since the beginning of 2002. At a total value of more than $266 million, the U.S. Government is the largest donor to the World Food Program's operations in southern Africa.

Horn of Africa

In Ethiopia and Eritrea, millions of people are vulnerable to food shortages brought on by a severe drought. USAID had been monitoring the situation through its Famine Early Warning System, and started sending emergency food assistance in July. Since then, the United States has given $106 million in food assistance to Ethiopia and Eritrea, or over 278,000 metric tons, of food.

Sudan

With the recent cessation of hostilities, there is better access to those in need and an increase in mobility among the population. The World Food Program has estimated that if the cease-fire holds its caseload will increase significantly. In response to the World Food Program's most recent appeal, USAID contributed 94,000 metric tons of food assistance, an estimated value of $81.6 million and 58.5% of the appeal.

Angola

Angola requires emergency food assistance during the critical pre-harvest months of December and January. The U.S. Government contributed 131,150 metric tons of food commodities, valued at $79 million, to Angola in 2002. USAID has been monitoring the situation in Angola since early 2002 when areas previously inaccessible to humanitarian aid revealed pockets of severe food insecurity.

USAID's Commitment to Africa

To reinforce its development commitment, USAID is launching four new special initiatives this year in Africa: in agriculture, trade, education, and good governance. Increasing agricultural productivity in particular is key to Africa's efforts to reduce widespread poverty. Agriculture is the foundation for most African economies, supporting over 70% of the population and contributing an average of 30% of gross domestic product.