This is from last September. Source: New Europe Online

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More than 2.8 million people in Malawi will face hunger in the coming months in the worst food crisis in a decade, where a staggering four out of every 10 children suffer from stunting, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned.

“People in some affected districts have already started selling their livestock to make ends meet,” WFP said in a press release. “Women are also engaging in more firewood and charcoal selling, which degrades the environment and further aggravates the fragile climate.

“The floods early this year were the worst in living memory in Malawi, washing away homes and food stocks, and ruining fertile land. Some crops managed to withstand the floods only to succumb to intense dry spells in the following months, making survival even more difficult for the most vulnerable.”

Since the end of last year, WFP has provided relief assistance to avert hunger in households hit by poor rainfall during the 2013/14 growing season and the floods in early 2015. This operation has reached more than one million vulnerable people.

Financed entirely by voluntary contributions from governments, companies and private individuals, WFP is less than 25% funded for the $81m relief operation that lies ahead.

“Additional contributions are urgently needed,” said WFP Representative for Malawi Coco Ushiyama.