Preliminary Appeal Target: US$1,185,868
Balance Requested: US$1,185,868
Geneva, 06 November 2014
Dear Colleagues,
A delayed start of the raining season (2013/2014) in Malawi and prolonged dry spells in some parts of the country has caused food insecurity to a total of 640,009 people across the nation, requiring about 15, 830 metric tonnes of maize to address the food shortage according to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) preliminary report of July 2014. Maize harvests were 50 – 75% below average during the season in some parts of the country due to the poor and early cessation of rains (FEWS NET - Malawi Food Security Alert of September 17, 2014). Nineteen out of twenty eight districts namely Karonga, Mzimba and Rumphi in the Northern Region; Dedza, Dowa, Lilongwe Rural, Mchinji, Ntcheu and Salima in the Central Region and Balaka, Blantyre Rural, Chikhwawa, Mulanje, Phalombe, Machinga, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje and Zomba in the southern region will face food deficits ranging from two to four months.
The Malawi Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security estimates for the 2013/2014 agricultural season show that most field crops (maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, sweet potatoes, pigeon peas and cotton) failed, with Mbiza, Lunzu and Kunthembwe being the hardest hit areas in Zomba and Blantyre districts respectively.
Members of the Malawi ACT forum have taken part in assessing the current food security situation as team members with the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), through the involvement of the Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS). A follow up market assessment was conducted in which ELDS and Christian Aid took part.
Using recommendations of these two assessments, and individual partner field assessments by ACT member CARD, the ACT forum is now working with government and humanitarian partners to address the food insecurity that is imminent hence this appeal.
