press releases

United States helps improve Food Security in Zambia

The United States government is providing Zambia with 93,820 metric tons in food aid and humanitarian assistance valued at $63 million. This assistance is channeled through the World Food Program (WFP) Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) and a U.S. Food for Peace supported food security program called C-SAFE (or “consortium for the Southern Africa Food-Security Emergency). The emergency food aid will help an estimated 1.4 million Zambians in rural areas recover from the effects of last season’s crop failures.

The U.S. food aid and humanitarian assistance, which will be disbursed between December 2005 and March 2006, represents 78% of the Zambian government’s estimated requirement. The U.S. government’s positive, rapid and decisive response follows the Government of Zambia’s 2005 Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) findings, and is responsive to recent appeals issued by the Zambian government.

The assistance will primarily target people in Southern, Western, and Eastern provinces. In addition to the C-SAFE and WFP PRRO programs, the United States has supported a new U.S. government-funded NGO consortium effort, led by CARE International, to augment food security and to combat acute malnutrition. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. government is also strengthening the capacity of district health centers and communities to monitor acute malnutrition, especially among children.

Furthermore, funding through USAID contributes to agricultural recovery and marketing of farm produce. C-SAFE supports conservation farming and distribution of seeds and other inputs in four districts (Kazungula, Kalomo, Choma, and Kalabo). U.S. funds will help rehabilitate dams and other water resources, and support small-scale irrigation for vegetable production and dairy development in the worst affected areas. These efforts aim to help food insecure small farmers.

The United States and Zambia enjoy fruitful cooperation in the area of humanitarian relief and recovery operations, through partnership with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in the Office of the Vice President (OVP).