WFP issues 5 million dollar Malawi food appeal

BLANTYRE — The UN's World Food Programme launched an international appeal for 5.2 million US dollars (3.5 million euros) Thursday to help feed more than half a million Malawians until the end of next year.

"We are seeking donor support to meet the 5.2 million US dollars shortfall to enable WFP provide the food needs of the targeted beneficiaries up to December 2010," Anne Callanan, the WFP's country director, told AFP.

Callanan said despite a bumper maize yield of 3.3 million tonnes, "this national surplus does not automatically and directly trickle down to vulnerable groups such the chronically-ill and orphans."

The vulnerable beneficiaries -- numbering some 535,000 -- include AIDS sufferers, patients receiving treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and malnourished children.

"We desperately need the donors continued support to meet the needs of the beneficiary categories who may not have opportunities to benefit from the surplus except through direct food transfers," she added.

Malawi this year produced a record maize harvest, credited to heavy investment in subsidised fertiliser and other farm inputs.

However food security is still a pressing issue to poverty-stricken Malawians, who account for around 45 percent of the 13 million citizens.

A government-funded subsidy programme, which cost 183 million dollars in 2008-9 growing season, is hugely popular here and was credited with helping President Bingu wa Mutharika win a sweeping victory in the May elections.