Govt urged to update the Nation on relief food distribution to hunger stricken districts

Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance Country Coordinator Mathews Mhuru has appealed to government to give an update on the relief food distribution to hunger stricken districts across the country.

Mr. Mhuru says despite government’s assurances that the distribution of relief food is ongoing in 60 needy districts,  the Alliance has continued to receive reports of hunger in some districts with the latest being in Chanje and Chikuwe Chiefdoms in Chipata District of Eastern Province.

Speaking to Q-news, Mr. Mhuru says people in Chiefs Chanje and Chikuwe’s areas are living on unripe pumpkins and Cassava, hence the need for government to quickly move in and provide them with relief food.

He adds that it is disheartening that despite the reported hunger in some parts of Gwembe District last year where people were reportedly surviving on tamarind, government has not taken any relief food to the area to prevent the possible increase in malnutrition cases due to over consumption of one type of food.

Mr. Mhuru has reiterated his call on Government to use its monitoring systems under the Office of the Vice President to identify the most affected areas in the country and see how best to support them with food supplements.