 |
| |
A Presbyterian Development worker in Malawi has warned that the next few months are critical in fighting the famine which has engulfed southern African countries including Malawi.
Maghera man Maurice McNicholl, who works as a Development Officer in Malawi as part of the Presbyterian Church's partnership arrangement with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian believes food is being distributed effectively throughout the country and sites the improvement he sees in children, feeding mothers and babies and other 'at risk' groups and as proof. A better harvest in May has helped but he warns that now is the critical time.
"We're at a point where we are five or six months from the last harvest and six or seven to go to the next and we are at a very critical time because the people do not have food in their homes. The government recently estimated that 68% of the people in one area where we are working have no food.
"These people depend on us for food and whether agencies can sustain that for the next six months is critical. Food aid is coming in very well and people throughout the world have supported us very well, but that's no good if they stop now. Unless this can keep going for six to seven months there are going to be really severe difficulties."
In August Presbyterian Moderator Dr Russell Birney wrote to congregations asking them to contribute to food aid for southern Africa and particularly Malawi and Presbyterians showed their generosity donating some £270,000.
"Money that comes in relation to the hunger situation will mainly go on feeding." says McNicholl. "Help is directed towards the most at risk - old people, young children and feeding mothers, families with orphans or where people are sick. Families receive a bag of maize per month and where there are children under 5 specially enriched maize with added minerals.
"One of the other things we are doing is feeding children in their schools. Children don't go to school when they are hungry, saying that they can't learn on an empty stomach. When we began to feed the children in school attendances went up by over 50%."
In another scheme running during December about 15,000 farmers, once they have prepared their land and dug in compost, will be given some fertiliser and a variety of seed to plant, hopefully for harvesting in May.
"Planting is done both in hope and in faith." says McNicholl, "and Malawians are a people of great faith, they do rely very much on God and the hope they have in Him for a good harvest, for a better future.
"I really believe that the work that we're doing as churches, the compassion that we show for those who are suffering, is very very important indeed. We go in with the compassion of Christ to a suffering people knowing that we have the responsibility to stand with these people and share with them as much as we can.
"People who are hungry, people who are dying have no future and we must give them that future first and then allow them to have the choices and opportunities that the future gives."
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive