South Africa to provide food aid to 7 SADC countries

South African government said on Friday that it will spend 140 million rand (22 million US dollars) this year to provide humanitarian food aid help to seven Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

The Department of Land Affairs and Agriculture said: "Of the total donation of 140 million rand, 70 percent or 98 million rand will be made available for (the) rehabilitation of productivity of households with the ability to produce food while 25 percent or 35 million rand is destined for direct food relief."

"The remaining five percent or 7 million rand will be utilized to support the SADC regional early warning system," the department said in a statement.

The assistance would include supporting the rehabilitation of agricultural production in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The assistance comes after the government considered a report from the World Food Program (WFP) on food vulnerability in the SADC region.

"This report warns that following continuing drought conditions during the growing season, a number of SADC countries will not be able to meet their national food requirements from own production. "

"This scenario will create a serious food security situation during the course of the year ahead," the department said.

The department added: "The details and timing of the assistance will be finalized in collaboration with the WFP and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)."

Source: Xinhua