The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit have clarified reports by the International Federation for the Red Cross that the country will soon go into famine with 38 districts already in the emergency phase.
DMMU National Coordinator, Chanda Kabwe stated that it was three districts that were established to be in an emergency phase while 58 districts were established to be in need of humanitarian support.
He said the three districts were Lunga, Gwembe and Shan’gombo and that the three districts will be in the phase from October 2019 to March 2020.
Mr Kabwe established that government through DMMU had since increased the allocation of relief from 100mt to 200mt for the three districts, and is yet to include pulses to the package.
“The Unit is currently providing relief to 1.7million people that were affected by the prolonged dry spell but the number will increase to 2.3million from October to March next year.” Mr Kabwe said.
He explained that it was unfortunate that cooperating partners like the Red Cross would issue such alarming reports with incorrect statistics.
The DMMU National Coordinator has called on members of the public to take time and read the report which had since been launched by the Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Olipah Phiri.
Mr Kabwe had assured the nation that the situation was under control and that partners had already come on board to supplement government effort.
“The partners include the United Nations (UN) system, China Jiangxi which donated K1million just yesterday and Zambian Breweries who have indicated their willingness to donate as well,” he announced.