
Maputo, 29 Feb (AIM) – Over 9,000 households are facing a food crisis in Chemba district, in the central Mozambican province of Sofala, as a result of the loss of around 25,000 hectares of various crops destroyed by drought believed to be related to the El Ñino weather phenomenon.
The director of the Chemba District Services for Economic Activities (SDAE), Cândido Zeca, explained that the lack of food is most critical in the administrative post of Charamba and in the localities of Catolé and Nicoe, where urgent support is needed.
According to the source, in these regions, many families are feeding on wild fruit and others have been forced to sell their livestock to buy food.
However, those affected are expected to start receiving food assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP) in the coming days.
“At the moment, the district is in a situation of food insecurity and around 1,000 families will receive support or an allowance of 2,500 meticais per month (about 40 US dollars, at the current exchange rate)”, Zeca said, cited by Radio Mozambique.
He explained that the loss of 25,000 hectares has directly affected 15,000 farming families.
“The district has potential for livestock and fishing, which is why some families are selling domestic animals, such as cattle and goats, and others have been fishing in order to obtain money to buyfood”, he said.
“There are a few other families who are feeding on wild fruit, not only in Charamba, but also in the locality of Catolé”, he added.
(AIM)
FG/Ad/pf (262)