A report by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit indicates that over 300, 000 Zambians have been left vulnerable to food insecurity because of last season’s partial drought. The report also suggests among others, measures such as food relief distribution and diversified food crop cultivation as credible measures to assist those in need. Over 300, 000 Zambians have been left vulnerable to food insecurity because of last season’s partial drought, a government report says.
The government through the office of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit undertook a vulnerability assessment study whose report also suggests among others measures such as food relief distribution and diversified food crop cultivation as credible measures to assist those in need.
This came to light yesterday during the Zambia Red Cross Society flagging off ceremony of agriculture inputs for distribution to 500 households in Sesheke and Kazungula districts.
Speaking during the flagging off ceremony, Zambia Red Cross Society president ambassador Godfrey Simasiku said the organisation had procured various agriculture inputs consisting of vegetable seeds, equipment and chemicals for distribution to the named districts valued at a total cost of k 320, 000.
Amb. Simasiku said the inputs are meant to enable the selected households engage in alternative crop production such as gardening and livestock rearing as alternative food sources.
“We believe that this initiative will provide for a longer term and sustainable measures of enabling households to access food,” Simasiku said.
He added that the Zambian Red Cross society is so far serving 22, 000 people to diversify their crop cultivation in kazungula and sesheke through a program called “The Zambezi River Basin Initiative,’
“We also provide maternal neonatal and child health, and water and sanitation to ten thousand people in Limulunga district of western province.
“Zambia Red Cross Society does all this because of its nature as an auxiliary institution to government with the responsibility of alleviating human suffering,” Amb. Simasiku explained.
The Zambia Red Cross President appealed to individuals and heads of corporate institutions to positively work hand in hand with the organisation in its quest to better humanity.
Meanwhile, Disaster management and mitigation unit (DMMU) national coordinator in the office of the Vice President Patrick Kangwa applauded the Zambia Red Cross society for complimenting government’s effort in reducing the impact of food insecurity for those affected by last season’s partial drought.
“I commend the Zambia Red Cross Society that it is always among the first responders whenever we have a disaster affecting our people in the country… the flagging off of the agriculture inputs proves the point that you are indeed the first responders to yoking the expected hunger,” he said.
Mr. Kangwa added, “I am glad to learn that your National Society is already serving over 22, 000 people to diversify their crop cultivation in Kazungula and Sesheke as well as providing maternal neonatal and child health …. and water and sanitation to 10, 000 people in Limulunga district.”
Mr. Kangwa said this in a speech read for him by Zambia Red Cross Society national secretary Anderson Banda.
Over 300, 000 Zambians face hunger due to partial drought
