WV President makes southern Africa food crisis top priority

The president of World Vision International, Dean Hirsch, has officially declared a Category III emergency for the Southern Africa region – the highest rating on the agency’s emergency scale.

The move follows the worst food crisis in the region for 20 years.

World Vision senior relief co-ordinator Paul Sitnam said the announcement would demand a greater effort by World Vision

“It will challenge us to explore new methods and ideas in programming and implementation of [relief] projects,” he said.

“Our resources - human and otherwise - will be stretched to the limit.”

Mr Sitnam said World Vision would tackle the crisis on many fronts with programmes in agricultural recovery, food aid, health, nutrition, water and sanitation. He said the agency would place special emphasis on targeting the most vulnerable.

“We must always keep in sight the most vulnerable groups such as victims of HIV/AIDS, orphans, the elderly, and single person headed households,” he said.

Mr Sitnam warned an effective response would need substantial funding.

“It is our hope that we can get the resources we need, and maximise the use of the resources so that we can serve those who we have pledged to help.”

World Vision plans to assist more than two million people in the region.