Tens of thousands of people under coronavirus lockdown
in Swaziland (eSwatini) are to get money to buy food from a charitable
foundation. Meanwhile the Swazi Government’s scheme to feed more than 300,000
people by 6 May 2020 has stalled.
The Natie Kirsh Foundation
began the cash distribution of E45
million (US$2.5 million) on Monday (25 May 2020) in an attempt to feed 69,000
people in 11,000 households in the Shiselweni
and Manzini regions. Money will be sent to households in other regions in the
kingdom in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Ambrose
Dlamini told media, ‘We
are cognizant of the reality that many people who were not chronically food
insecure before COVID-19 now need food assistance. These include workers who
have been laid off, street vendors, hawkers and others.’
The money will be
transferred electronically to the bank accounts of households. Each household
is expected
to get E700 to spend on food items
of their choice.
The distribution is separate
from a government scheme
that was announced on 22 April. Prime Minister Dlamini promised more than
300,000 people would get food aid within two weeks. Swaziland has been in
partial lockdown since 27 March.
The scheme stalled after the House
of Assembly refused to back a plan from the Deputy Prime
Minister Themba Masuku to send destitute people money rather than food.
Then it was revealed that the government had no
plan to feed people living in towns and cities.
Then there was chaos across the kingdom as people who tried to register for food aid were turned away.
Then there was chaos across the kingdom as people who tried to register for food aid were turned away.
It was also reported that some
people were being charged E50 to have their names put
on the registration list. In normal times about seven in ten of the population
live on incomes less than the equivalent of US$2 (E37) a day.
See also
Chaos
as Swaziland Govt. misses target to start food aid for destitute in coronavirus
lockdown
Swaziland
police fine man trying to buy food for destitute children during coronavirus
lockdown
Swaziland
Govt. confirms it will not feed the starving in towns and cities during
coronavirus lockdown
Swaziland
Govt. pledges to feed 300,000 facing hunger in next two weeks as coronavirus
intensifies
People
face ‘imminent death from hunger’ in Swaziland as coronavirus lockdown hits
poorest
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/04/people-face-imminent-death-from-hunger.html
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