The European Union donated
2.4 million euros (about 46.6 million emalangeni in local currency) to
Swaziland (eSwatini) as the government stumbled to feed hundreds of thousands
of people in desperate need of food during the current coronavirus crisis.
The money will help feed
230,000 vulnerable households in all four regions of the kingdom. They will receive
cash and food parcels for the next eight to 10 months.
EU Ambassador to Eswatini
Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones presented a cheque to Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose
Dlamini on Wednesday (15 July 2020).
In a statement the
EU said the scheme would be implemented through the European Civil Protection
and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) which would partner locally with the
World Food Program (WFP) and Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society.
WFP would receive from ECHO
1.4 million Euros for an action focusing on food and nutrition insecurity in
worst affected areas. Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society which will partner
with Red Cross Finland, would receive 1 million Euros for an action focusing on
food security and nutrition.
 |
EU Ambassador to Eswatini
Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones presents a cheque to Swazi Prime Minister Ambrose
Dlamini
|
The Swazi Government’s own scheme
to feed the hungry has been plagued with problems.
A fund was set up to give money to about 300,000
people who faced hunger and possible starvation when they lost
their jobs because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown that started on
27 March. Many businesses were forced to close.
There were so many reports across the kingdom that the
registration was flawed that in some places the whole process had to start
again.
There were numerous reports that organisations tasked
by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)
had failed to identify people genuinely in need. In turn those organisations
blamed NDMA saying
the process they were asked to follow was flawed.
Media reported that
money was going to civil servants, landlords and some law enforcement
officers who had registered for relief under questionable circumstances.
The Swazi Government’s feeding scheme was a failure
from the start. Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini had announced it would feed more
than 300,000 people by 6 May. By a month after that date only 113,273
people had received aid.
The feeding plan was originally rejected
by members of the House of Assembly who preferred that food, rather than
cash, be distributed. They feared money would not be spent on food.
Last week NDMA
Chief Executive Officer Russell
Dlamini said money would
not go to elderly people aged 60 and over who get already a monthly E500
elderly grant (pension) from the government.
See also
Only four in ten receive food aid in Swaziland Govt
coronavirus scheme, a month after deadline
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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