Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has made a renewed appeal for international food assistance to address one of the country’s worst food shortages in decades, which is affecting over 5.7 million people—more than a quarter of Malawi’s population of 20 million.
Speaking in a televised address on Wednesday, Chakwera highlighted the dire situation in rural areas, where some villagers have resorted to eating wild plants like buffalo beans to survive. “We are not out of the woods yet,” Chakwera said. “This is why I continue to lobby for international support to address the humanitarian crisis we are facing.”
Earlier this year, Chakwera sought $200 million in food aid to combat the effects of a drought linked to El Niño weather conditions. While Malawi has received significant donations through the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), the president stressed that more aid is urgently needed.
Chakwera expressed gratitude to donor countries for their support. “I say thank you to all those who are helping Malawians during this season of drought and hunger,” he said. “Malawians are fair-minded people who will remember those who stood by them during this crisis.”
Despite the contributions, a significant funding gap remains. Kylie Scott, head of partnerships and communication for the WFP in Malawi, told VOA that the agency’s funding only covers needs until the end of 2024. “There will be a gap until March 2025,” Scott said. “We are working hard to close that gap and ensure no one is left behind.”
Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs, the WFP, and local humanitarian organizations are actively distributing food aid to communities in need. However, President Chakwera emphasized that continued international support is crucial to saving lives and addressing the escalating humanitarian crisis.