London (16 January, 2006) – Several countries in southern Africa (Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Congolese province of Katanga) are currently suffering food shortages brought about by drought, soil erosion and other factors.

The deputy executive director of the UN World Food Programme said that in March and April some nine million people will need to be helped.

In 2002, when nearly 13 million people in southern Africa were under threat of starvation, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe all refused to distribute commercial US maize containing up to 30 per cent GM. Latterly, only Zambia held fast to this position. In September 2002, President Mwanawasa declared that his country would rather starve than "accept poison”.

However, the President, is reported to have told US food suppliers recently that they could distribute GM maize among the hungry. Let us hope the report is true; it is good news.

Source:

1. Zambia refuses GM 'poison'. BBC News (3.9.02) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2233839.stm)

2. Sambia akzeptiert GV-Mais (Zambia accepts GM maize). Ernährungsdienst (11.1.06)

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