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· Southern Madagascar needs immediate emergency food assistance, since the region is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with 1.5 million people—half the region’s population—living under abject poverty, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
· The situation got worse due to three straight years of drought, which have wiped out harvests and hampered people’s access to food
· WFP needs US$37.5 million to rapidly expand its response and prevent child malnutrition rates
Southern Madagascar needs immediate emergency food assistance, since the region is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with 1.5 million people—half the region’s population—living under abject poverty, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The situation got worse due to three straight years of drought, which have wiped out harvests and hampered people’s access to food. This was compounded by the outbreak of Covid-19, which bought economic activities to standstill.
Amboasary is the epicenter of the food crisis. Families are depending on raw mangoes and tamarind for their sustenance. . Mothers can no longer breastfeed and are forced to give their infants water which is also in scarce supply. Families across this drought area are selling precious belongings such as cattle, farm tools and kitchen utensils, said Moumini Ouedraogo, WFP’s Representative in Madagascar.
Recently, WFP has started supplying sorghum fortified oil and rice for 320,000 severely food-insecure people in the 10 districts, which are hard hit. It is also serving hot meals for malnourished children and the elderly in Amboasary. However, due to funding gaps, the humanitarian works are severely affected. WFP needs US$37.5 million to rapidly expand its response and prevent child malnutrition rates. It also has to reach 891,000 people through next June. The agency will also have to roll out emergency school feeding, so that children can continue studying—an essential key to a better future.
Communications sector regulator, Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA), has invited today proposals for two new full-service telecommunications licenses with a deadline of 90 calendar days.
It said highly capable and interested telecommunications operators may take part in sealed bidding and submit their technical and financial offers for the two licenses, which will be issued in March/April 2021.
