-18,000 Kilwa Islanders face hunger

18,000 Kilwa Islanders face hunger

Nchelenge, June 3, 2013,ZANIS…..About 18,000 people at
Kilwa Island on Lake Mweru in Nchelenge district are facing severe
hunger.

Acting Nchelenge District Commissioner Gift Hajongola says people on
the Island are affected by hunger caused by
crop failure due to a drought.

Mr.Hajongola confirmed the development this morning when Luapula
Province Minister Benson Kapaya  paid a courtesy call on him at his
office.

The acting DC says there is urgent need for relief food for the
islanders as they are faced with a serious hunger situation.

Mr. Hajongola said the situation has been made worse by the fact that
the recent skirmishes in the neighboruring Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) brought refugees to the area who contributed to the
depletion of food.

He said the other factor that has contributed to the hunger situation is the
lack of an alternative source of food on the island.

And General Kapaya said Government is concerned with the
development at the Island and is working round the clock to ensure
that relief food is provided for the people of Kilwa.

General Kapaya said the geographical location of the Island  made it
difficult for the resident to access the main land to get food.

The Provincial Minister said Government has through the
Disaster Management and Mitigating Unit (DMMU) in the Office of the
Vice President has already done an assessment of the required relief
food.

Kilwa Island on Lake Mweru has been hit by a drought that has caused
food insecurity in the area.

ENDS/ESM/CSB/ZANIS…….DRY.