[Swaziland] Poverty biting hard

from African News Dimension

A quarter of the country's population is living in abject poverty, some competing with animals for drinking water and even starving to death.

World Food Programme (WFP) Country Coordinator Abdoulaye Balde noted that the country had about 80 000 orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) and as the HIV and AIDS situation persists, the figure is likely to increase.

He was speaking yesterday at the WFP offices when he launched the 'Walk the World- fight hunger' campaign to be held on May 21 2006. The campaign seeks to ask policy makers worldwide that ending child hunger is not a question of wallet but one of will.

This is because it has emerged that the world has more than enough resources and riches.

Balde cited the main issues impacting upon food security in the country as poverty, HIV and AIDS.

He said the campaign of fighting hunger began two years ago where upon policy makers are urged to fight hunger.

"At least 69 percent of the country's population is living below E220 (USD36.7) per month. Again HIV and AIDS has taken its toll as statistics from pregnant women attending antenatal care in 2004 revealed that at least 42.6 percent were HIV positive.

"Now that's an emerging problem when one takes into account the role that women play in society. It also increases poverty levels because it means they have to be cared for and supported," he said.

He also noted that the most parts of the Lubombo region were hard hit by drought and poverty because for the last five years or so rain has not been forthcoming in those areas.

"Salaries earned even by those living in the city is insufficient to take care of their needs further worsening poverty levels as they have families to take care of.

Of the prevailing figure of 850 million people affected by poverty the world over, half of these are children. One of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to half this figure in the next 10 years.

Balde asked the media to join the alliance of partners working in fighting poverty in the country through meaningful contribution and interrogation of the issues around this scourge.

The WFP Country Representative was in the company of his deputy Catherine Feeney.

Source: Swazi Observer