The African Development Bank Group has provided a grant of $686,000 to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) which will provide food relief to thousands of people in southern Madagascar.

The support comes at a critical time for Madagascar, which is suffering its worst drought in 40 years. More than 1.35 million people are highly food insecure and left with nothing to eat. This is double the figure at the same time last year and the crisis is mounting.

"We are grateful for the generosity of the African Development Bank. This support affirms their commitment to ensure the food and nutrition security of the Malagasy people, which is vital for the development of the country," said Moumini Ouedraogo, WFP Country Representative in Madagascar.

Since November 2020, the forecast of those affected has increased by about 95,000, according to figures from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a multi-partner initiative that monitors food security and nutrition.

The contribution from the African Development Bank has allowed WFP to provide around 72,000 people in the south of Madagascar with life-saving food assistance for three months from May to July. The package includes 510 tons of rice, 195 tons of legumes, 78 tons of vegetable oil, 34 tons of supercereals and 14.24 tons of nutritional supplementary feeding.

The support from the African Development Bank complements existing aid. WFP began providing integrated assistance in October 2020, combining general food distribution with prevention and treatment of moderate to acute malnutrition in the nine most drought-affected districts in southern Madagascar.

Contact:

Gershwin Wanneburg, Communication and External Relations Department, African Development Bank, email: g.wanneburg@afdb.org