United Nations

Office of the UN Resident Coordinator – MALAWI
Tel: (265 1 773-500                  Fax: (265) 1 773-637

PRESS RELEASE

SPECIAL ENVOY PRAISES HUMANITARIAN GAINS BUT URGES CLOSER LOOK AT BROADER CHALLENGES

December 9, 2006

LILONGWE – James T. Morris, the U.N. Special Envoy for Southern Africa, on Saturday praised the Government of Malawi, UN agencies, and non-government organizations (NGOs) for helping to stave off food crises in the last few years but urged all actors to now embrace other challenges facing the country.

Malawi was one of the worst drought-affected countries in the region in 2002, when nearly five million people faced starvation. Over the ensuing years, some improvements were recorded but in 2005/6 the country’s resolve was again tested following an extended dry period that caused widespread crop failure, primarily because of a dependence on rain fed agriculture and a lack of adequate irrigation.

“Malawi is rich in water resources and needs to find sustainable solutions so that when rains are erratic there is a system in place to fall back on,” said James Morris, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa. “This region already faces major challenges because of HIV/AIDS, if we could take food insecurity out of the equation then real development objectives could start to be met”

(left to right) Domenico Scalpelli, Country Director WFP Malawi, UN Special Envoy James Morris and Michael Keating, Resident Coordinator UN in Malawi at a press conference during the Special Envoy’s mission to Malawi.

Malawi’s maize production this year totaled 2.6 million tons, which was an historic high and a 100 percent improvement on the 1.3 million tones produced the previous year. The turn around was attributed to favourable weather conditions and subsidized agricultural inputs scheme.

Despite the better harvest, 833,000 people will need assistance due to chronic poverty and the impact of HIV/AIDS. In addition, 148,000 people are at risk of not meeting their food needs if the household economy deteriorates further. Because of the lower number of people in need of food assistance, Malawi now has a rare window of opportunity to examine ways of mitigating and preventing crises from occurring.

During his trip to Malawi, the second leg of a five country visit, Morris met with government ministers, agencies of the United Nations system, NGOs, and donor representatives.

The Special Envoy also noted that the country would not have succeeded in averting these food crises if it were not for a well coordinated UN and NGO sector working in close collaboration with Government and donors.

Morris, who is on his eighth and final trip to southern Africa, arrived in Malawi on the eve of Human Rights Day. 

“Malawi, like the rest of southern Africa, walks a tightrope every year waiting to see whether rainfall is plentiful enough to ensure a good harvest but attention must also be paid to ensuring clean water, sanitation, agricultural reform, education, healthcare and the environment do not lose out,” Morris said. “Access to all of these areas should be considered basic human rights and a priority for children and those affected by HIV/AIDS,” he added. “Now is the time to look forward and put long-term solutions in place.” 

An estimated 44 percent of children under the age of five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. In addition, there are about one million orphans in Malawi, half of whom have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.

Morris noted the impressive progress that has been made in increasing antiretroviral rollout in Malawi, from 8,000 people receiving the drugs in January 2005, to 70,000 people this month. Average life expectancy has declined to 37.5 years of age, primarily because of the impact of HIV/AIDS and the increased availability of these drugs will help keep people alive and families together for as long as possible. 

Itinerary

For more information contact:
Susan Muguro Tel. 09-967-991
Mike Huggins (traveling with the S. Envoy) Tel: +27 82-908-1448 (cell)