Truckers help fight against starvation

James Hall FOR THE third consecutive year, road freight hauliers will be pressed into service by international food relief workers to stave off starvation in Swaziland. A new crop projection by the World Food Programme, used to co-ordinate relief efforts, predicts a 2003/04 grain harvest of 78 100 tonnes, about a third of the country’s requirement of 205 800 tonnes. 127 700 tonnes of food will be imported commercially. A remaining 24 300 tonnes will come from food relief agencies. In drought-affected areas, only 50% of farmers will harvest anything this year. But food yields are down even in areas of good rainfall, due to Aids, which has eliminated commercial farm workers and able-bodied adults who normally cultivate small family fields. US$12 million in food relief began arriving in July to feed 132 000 people. Nearly a quarter of a million Swazis will be without food by early next year, the WFP has told trucking firms. Early warning and well co-ordinated transport made food distribution a success this year.