Nearly one in three people in Swaziland (eSwatini) face severe hunger in
the coming months and the situation is getting worse.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is only partly to blame. Before the
virus struck in March 2020 the kingdom already faced a crisis because of poor harvests. But, the impact on jobs of the
command by King Mswati III, the kingdom’s absolute monarch, to partially shut
down the economy because of the virus has hit hard.
The Integrated
Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in a report just published said about 366,000
(32 percent of the population) faced ‘high acute food insecurity’ in the coming
months.
The IPC analysis was undertaken for rural and urban areas in Swaziland;
comprising of four rural districts: (Manzini, Shiselweni, Lubombo and Hhohho);
and two urban districts; (Hhohho urban and Manzini urban). At present, 32
percent of the rural population (292,794 people) and 17 percent of the urban
population (37,424 people) are in crisis.
Compared with 2019, the kingdom’s food insecurity situation has deteriorated.
IPC reported The COVID-19 pandemic had compounded the
food insecurity situation, leading to an estimated 37 percent of households
with reduced income and 26.9 percent with reported loss of employment.
‘High prevalence of HIV and AIDS and its effects on
the productivity of most rural households in the country continue to pose a
great threat to a large proportion (26 percent) of the rural population. Lower
than normal rainfall, coupled with a high prevalence of disease, during the
production season negatively affected food production and availability.’
It added the kingdom had recorded a shortfall in maize
production of 71.93 metric tons to meet the 162.32 metric tons domestic
requirement for the staple crop. Planned import requirements amount to 61.7
metric tons, with an uncovered food gap of 10.22 metric tons.
The report stated, ‘COVID-19 restrictions continue to
disrupt food supply chains in the country, negatively impacting food
availability. Humanitarian assistance programmes have been initiated to provide
cash and food relief to ease the COVID 19-induced food challenges.
‘The greater impact of the pandemic weighs heavily on
the rural poor due to the disruption of the informal sector – the mainstay of
rural livelihood.’
See also
EU steps up to feed
destitute during coronavirus crisis as Swaziland Govt. stumbles to deliver aid
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
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