Hunger Stalking rural Zambia
By Pelekelo Liswaniso
Hunger is not a pleasant experience. In fact no one wants to be hungry at any time. Even those who fast for reasons best known to themselves, don’t envy the experience because the immediate effect of hunger is pain, which if prolonged, can be severe, and could lead to death.
We are therefore disturbed about reports of looming hunger in Gwembe, in Southern province and Kalabo in Western province, where local people are feared to be on the verge of starvation.
Chief Simumba of the Tonga people in Siavonga is worried that his subjects may not survive unless Government provides relief food. Most people in the chiefdom did not produce enough food during the last farming season because of drought and the destruction of crops by elephants.
We are worried that what could be seen to be isolated cases of people without food could turn out to be a national disaster of famine if urgent measures are not taken to avert the hunger situation.
We are concerned because prolonged hunger or famine can result in death and disease, destruction of livestock and seed, crime and other social disorders, and unnecessary migration by the people.
People who lack sufficient food lose weight and grow extremely weak. Many victims become so feeble that they die from diarrhea or some other ailment. Old people and young children usually are the first to die and we do not wish to see this happen, especially in the wake of a national bumper maize harvest in the last season
It’s however commendable that in Kalabo, the government has already swung into action, and so far 900 tonnes of relief maize have been sent to the area through the Disaster Management Unit (DMMU), which was working in conjunction with the World Food Programme (WFP).
We hope the same speed is applied in Southern province so that the people of Gwembe, Siavonga and Sinazongwe are equally distributed with relief food.
What is worrying us further is that reports of hunger in Gwembe and Kalabo seem to have become a perennial problem and there appears to be no solution.
Kalabo district was last year among the areas in Western province which were affected by flooding and heavy rain, causing destruction to crops and infrastructure like bridges.
We fear this destruction could happen again this year considering the high rainfall the country is experiencing.
Hunger is not a pleasant experience. In fact no one wants to be hungry at any time. Even those who fast for reasons best known to themselves, don’t envy the experience because the immediate effect of hunger is pain, which if prolonged, can be severe, and could lead to death.
We are therefore disturbed about reports of looming hunger in Gwembe, in Southern province and Kalabo in Western province, where local people are feared to be on the verge of starvation.
Chief Simumba of the Tonga people in Siavonga is worried that his subjects may not survive unless Government provides relief food. Most people in the chiefdom did not produce enough food during the last farming season because of drought and the destruction of crops by elephants.
We are worried that what could be seen to be isolated cases of people without food could turn out to be a national disaster of famine if urgent measures are not taken to avert the hunger situation.
We are concerned because prolonged hunger or famine can result in death and disease, destruction of livestock and seed, crime and other social disorders, and unnecessary migration by the people.
People who lack sufficient food lose weight and grow extremely weak. Many victims become so feeble that they die from diarrhea or some other ailment. Old people and young children usually are the first to die and we do not wish to see this happen, especially in the wake of a national bumper maize harvest in the last season
It’s however commendable that in Kalabo, the government has already swung into action, and so far 900 tonnes of relief maize have been sent to the area through the Disaster Management Unit (DMMU), which was working in conjunction with the World Food Programme (WFP).
We hope the same speed is applied in Southern province so that the people of Gwembe, Siavonga and Sinazongwe are equally distributed with relief food.
What is worrying us further is that reports of hunger in Gwembe and Kalabo seem to have become a perennial problem and there appears to be no solution.
Kalabo district was last year among the areas in Western province which were affected by flooding and heavy rain, causing destruction to crops and infrastructure like bridges.
We fear this destruction could happen again this year considering the high rainfall the country is experiencing.
We know government has a multitude of priorities but averting hunger and death should be treated as an emergency because a myriad of other problems can follow.
Cholera, for example can easily break out in an area where there is hunger and such a disease can easily take many lives because people weakened by hunger do not recover easily from disease.
Large numbers of people affected by hunger can also flee from their homes and live in crowded areas where they will scrounge for the little food they find and further compounding the spread of diseases. Such people will also frequently drink impure water, which can carry disease.
Destruction of livestock and seed can also prolong the disaster. Many farm animals will be killed for food. Farmers may end up eating all their seed before the planting season begins. Such damaging losses will hinder them from returning to a normal life and may lower production levels.
Crime and other social disorders would increase too. Crimes such as looting, prostitution, and theft can multiply. Desperate people will steal food and other items they would not obtain otherwise. They may sell stolen goods to buy something to eat.
There may be scattered outbreaks of violence, particularly near food distribution centers. This is not what we want to see in the Gwembe valley or any place for that matter. Government should quickly move in and help the people.
posted by aydpels @ 7:52 AM
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