SMP calls for increased food security support

We are deeply saddened to see that the food security situation in Malawi continues to deteriorate.

Our friends in Malawi are facing what could be one of the worst famines in recent history, having seen floods then droughts ravage the country: this is the result of a changing climate and a devastating El Niño effect. More than 2.8 million Malawians are currently affected but it is feared that this could rise to 8 million in the coming months, around half the population of the country.

This should be a time of comparative plenty in Malawi, soon after harvest. But the rains have been poor and many of our partner communities are already down to just one meal a day, with the situation only set to worsen in the coming months.

We will continue to do everything we can to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends in Malawi through this most difficult time.

Both the UK and the Scottish Government have done a power of good supporting food security in Malawi in recent months. We applaud all this effort. Sadly though, the situation is so dire that more is needed.

The President of Malawi has requested further emergency support and so we have written to the First Minister and Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP, the Minister of State in DFID, asking for an urgent increase in humanitarian assistance for Malawi.

Both Governments are strongly committed to assisting Malawi and we are confident both will do everything they can to support our friends at this most pressing time.

We hope to offer more advice and information to members in the coming months on how they can support their partner communities. In the meantime, please keep david(at)scotland-malawipartnership.org informed as to reports you are receiving from your partners as to the local situation.

For the latest updates and information from Malawi, we recommend members look to: http://reliefweb.int/country/mwi