Million people at risk of hunger in Mozambique

Maputo, Oct 7: Over 902,000 people in Mozambique are at high risk of being hit by food insecurity due to droughts this year, an official has said.

Deputy Minister of Health Mouzinho Saide said food insecurity is affecting 130,000 people from Gaza and Inhambane provinces in the southern region, though a number of actions have already been taken to minimise the impact, Xinhua news agency reported.

"There are a number of response initiatives in place, including water supply through the construction of boreholes and rehabilitation of reservoirs, there are trade fairs, assistance in terms of medicines to tackle some diseases such as diarrhoea," said Saide.

Droughts are severely affecting the northern districts of Gaza province and southern region of Inhambane province, both in the southern part of the country.

Due to lack of water, some people are sharing the same water sources as animals, while other people are migrating to other areas where they can find water and grass to feed their cattle.

The situation is expected to change in October, the beginning of the rainy season in Mozambique.

IANS