Banjul — Hunger, famine and the permanence of AIDS are threatening sub-Saharan Africa on two fronts, working in tandem to endanger millions of lives and literally set the process of reform and development back, said a blithe press release from UNAIDS.

UNAIDS said the link between agriculture and AIDS are clear in that in just two decades AIDS has killed seven million African farmers, consequently cutting labour productivity on the continent by up to 50 percent.

The release highlighted that the worst food storage in a decade in southern Africa is hitting countries with particularly high HIV prevalence.

'A dual tragedy has hit sub-Sahara Africa. Where lack of food is greatest HIV prevalence is alarmingly high. The two emergencies are not mutually exclusive' the release quoted Marika Fahlen director of social mobilization and information at the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as saying while addressing the World Food Summit in Rome.

The release stated that the two emergencies should not be handled separately. Ms. Fahlen was also quoted as saying that in a world of AIDS rural development food security and agricultural policies cannot be handled in isolation from the epidemic.

UNAIDS had warned that without success in HIV prevention the goals of the 1996 World Food Summit and the Millennium Development goals will not be met.

'These goals to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger will not be reached without effective multi-sector HIV/AIDS programmes' the release observed.

While UNAIDS welcomes the reference to HIV/AIDS made in this summer's draft resolution Ms Fahlen also called for action with respect to HIV/AIDS at the World Food Summit consistent with UN General Assembly declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS.

The declaration was adopted unanimously by governments at the UN General Assembly special session on HIV/AIDS held in New York in June this year. World leaders at the Millennium Summit adopted the Millennium Development goals in 2000. Ms. Fahlen drew attention to the vast suffering already engendered by AIDS in rural areas.

'Because of AIDS farming skills have been lost, agricultural extension services have declined, rural livelihoods have disintegrated, productive capacity to work the land has dropped and household earnings are shrinking while the cost of caring for the ill skyrockets' it added.

'The release further stated that each day close to 14,000 people become infected with HIV, most of them in their most productive years. With 20 million deaths since the early 1980s and 40 million people now living with HIV or AIDS - more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa - it is clear that the demographic pyramid as we once knew it has been redrawn', it asserted.