The United Nations, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), have appealed for $530-million for food and other aid to address the humanitarian needs of 6,5-million people in southern Africa. Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, spokesperson for the UN's Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, James Morris, said: "The 2003/04 Regional Consolidated Appeal (Cap) for southern Africa was launched to provide life-saving assistance for millions of people severely weakened by consecutive failed harvests, extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe".

Morris said $320-million was required for food and $210-million for other aid.

"In addition to food aid, the 12-month appeal also seeks to fund water and sanitation, agriculture, education and health projects".

UN regional co-ordinator for Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, Mike Sackett, told reporters that acute needs, particularly in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, would be a primary focus of UN agencies.

"Of the 6,5-million people, the most vulnerable are the four million people living in Zimbabwe suffering due to climatic factors, disintegration of the economy, climatic factors and HIV/Aids".

He said the impact of HIV/Aids on children was especially damaging, with 2,3-million of the 6,5-million people being orphans. "Eighty per cent of the 2,3-million orphans from the six countries have lost their parents due to HIV/Aids".

Sackett said agencies would also assist those families, which have not been able to recover since last year - despite improved rains in countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia.

"Seeds and fertilisers are still urgently needed to produce future harvests, as are medicines to fight life-threatening diseases.

"In addition, the Cap will focus on the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. With the highest levels of HIV/Aids prevalence in the world, southern Africa has been hit with a destructive force that is devastating people's lives and potentially fuelling widespread social and economic breakdown," Sackett said.

Morris added: "As long as HIV/AIDS continues to be the single biggest destroyer of lives and livelihoods in this region, southern Africa will remain on the precipice of an unparalleled humanitarian tragedy.

"We absolutely cannot return to a 'business as usual' approach in southern Africa. It is simply not an option". – Sapa.