Food & Clothing
In the later months of 2001 the tiny nation of Malawi was struck, along with several of the other nations of central Africa, with its worst famine in over 50 years. In some areas too much rain, and in others too little rain, brought on the shortfall, and the other nations of the world were slow to see and react to the crisis. Malawi had traditionally been reasonably self-sufficient in food production, and many people thought they would weather this storm as well. It was not the case, and thousands starved to death in the ensuing crisis.
The Malawi Project and a large, well-organized network of Malawi village leaders, church elders, preachers, local government leaders, and others led the way in an organized distribution of food that stretched into nearly every region of the country and lasted for two years. Churches, humanitarian groups, and various aid organizations joined the effort to supply large amounts of food aid for local distribution.
Although many estimates conclude the main dagger of the famine has been withdrawn from the heart of Malawi, many of the same estimates conclude it will take another 3 to 5 years before most areas are fully on their feet.
With the realization of the need for food aid, and with the organization in place and functioning, members of the Project and their Malawi counterparts have put into place a program, not only for the scattered pockets where food is still needed, but also to a growing number of orphans and widows. This program continues to expand, even as the “famine aid” program moves slowly to the background.
