Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – "For almost three years, Malawi has been telling the world that it had defeated hunger. The trump card of this victory was the mass distribution of fertilizer. Purchased on the international market at high prices, it was distributed free to almost one million people. Distribution has not always reached those who were most needy, but there was a miracle," says Fr. Piergiorgio Gamba, missionary Montfortian that for more than 30 years working in Malawi, in talking with Agenzia Fides.
"A 'partial miracle,' because although this generosity may be what made President Bingu wa Mutharika win the general election, it has pushed the country to drift without foreign currency to boost the economy, leaving it literally, on foot, without money to buy the diesel and gasoline," the missionary adds. "And so, there is not enough fertilizer this year. The lack of rain is destroying what had been planted in different areas of the country. Some places have already replanted the grain several times, as it is the staple food of the 13 million inhabitants. Yet now, with little hope. The warmth of the sun in Africa in this summer without rain has brought the death of all that had budded."
According to figures provided by the local government, drought and swarms of caterpillars have destroyed 35,000 hectares of crops, putting at risk the food security of over 120,000 people.
"Everyone is waiting for the February 10th decision of the International Monetary Fund to grant aid to Malawi for three years. Without this injection of liquidity into the coffers of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, and worse still, without aid from the European Union and the international community which has been suspended and is pending a response from the Fund, on its own Malawi would cover only 50% of its State Budget 2010, which was recently approved by Parliament. I cannot imagine what could happen without the aid that is placed, year after year, directly into state coffers," said Father Gamba. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 27/1/2010)
