 People gathered to claim their allotment of food |
Gaza Province Emergency Food Aid Donors: Presbyterian Church of Canada and Canada Foodgrains Bank Cost: $42,000 |
People gathered to claim their allotment of food |
Gaza Province Emergency Food Aid Donors: Presbyterian Church of Canada and Canada Foodgrains Bank Cost: $42,000 |
The El Niņo phenomenon of 1998 affected parts of the world differently. Its impact on Mozambique was particularly felt in the districts of Chibuto and Manhabe in the Province of Gaza. Seeds planted by rural farmers died without bearing a crop, and even the traditional security crop of cassava failed to produce.
Working with the Canada Foodgrains Bank, the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique helped to provide enough food to help families endure until the next harvest. The local pastors helped ascertain that there were 2200 families in need of aid. Each of these families received two aid packages, one a month. Each food package had 8 kilograms of flour, 5.5 kilograms of rice, one kilogram of both beans and peanuts, and cooking oil. While not enough to fully feed each family for a month, it was enough to take the edge off hunger. It also helped by giving farmers the ability to maintain their seed reserves so they could replant their fields. The distribution was carefully managed, and very little of the food was lost. Every intended recipient was on a list compiled by a local committee. Community leaders were on hand to ensure that every family got one portion, and no family got more than their fair portion. The communities of Gaza Province received sufficient aid to last until their next harvest came in and life returned to normal.
