Members of the European Parliament who traveled to drought-stricken southern Madagascar to see how frontline communities and responders are coping with the protracted humanitarian emergency noted that a steady stream of aid averted catastrophe and alleviated widespread hunger. But they warned that much more needs to be done to significantly restore lives and livelihoods in a region particularly prone to the intensifying effects of the climate crisis.
Accompanied by Malagasy regional authorities, the EU Delegation to Madagascar and officials from the World Food Programme, five members of the European Parliament’s Development Committee met with vulnerable villagers in the districts of Amboasary and Ambovombe, epicentres of a four-year drought where near-famine conditions were declared in 2021.
This designation was lifted, in part thanks to the support of the European Union’s European Commission – through the EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) – and other donors for WFP’s work in the Great South of Madagascar. The support has enabled the consistent delivery of life-saving emergency assistance and longer-term assistance to withstand the impacts of extreme weather conditions.
“It was very valuable for us as parliamentarians to have an unfiltered picture of the situation on the ground. We were touched by the resilience of people and their ability to cope with the consequences of the drought. said Karsten Lucke, head of the parliamentary delegation, of his visit to southern Madagascar. “We are impressed with what WFP and partners such as the EU have achieved and particularly appreciate school feeding projects linked to local food production in support of a women’s association, as such programs strengthen the agency people and help them break their dependency on aid. We are determined to help ensure that WFP and its partners have what they need to do what they must.”
WFP and the EU are committed to continuing to work hard to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in Madagascar through wise investments in water conservation, reforestation and other relevant initiatives.
Distributed by APO Group for the World Food Program (WFP).
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