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This page was last updated: 07/08/10
UPDATE: (August 9, 2002)
We just received an update on the Food Crisis Situation in the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. It describes the situation in great detail, including how much aid has gone where and how much is still needed for the next year. It is very enlightening reading.UPDATE: (July 9, 2002)
We received an email on June 17, 2002 from Rev. H. M. Nkhoma, General Secretary, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, the Synod of Livingstonia which said in part:
"We are very thankful for the work that is carried out by Marion Medical Mission in Malawi in partnership with the Synod of Livingstonia. It is real Evangelism in a holistic manner. Your response to the famine here is also wonderful. Several lives of young and old people have been saved by your donations. The situation was critical. Meantime people have little food from this year's harvest. It is however anticipated that the famine may be worse this year as much of the crop has been consumed before it was harvested."
We must respond doing the best we can where we are with what we have and then go beyond what we can do by ourselves to where we must depend on God.
The famine problems will continue for at least another year and perhaps get worse. The people of Malawi need your prayers!
UPDATE: (April 13, 2002)Since we first called attention to the famine, in March, much has happened. Recently, Tom Logan sent this update:
Famine in Malawi!!!!
Marion Medical Mission found that it was uniquely situated to provide immediate famine relief in Northern Malawi through the Synod of Livingstonia, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. This is because Marion Medical Mission has a bank account in Mzuzu, Malawi (the location of the Synod's office) and has worked in Northern Malawi since 1990.
In an email dated March 18, 2002, Jim McGill, PCUSA missionary working in Mzuzu, Malawi, for the Synod of Livingstonia, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, said: "We feel we have the capacity to deliver $100,000 of maize and get it transported to the targeted families."
MMM wire transferred $50,000 of undesignated money (which would have been used for development in Malawi) on March 20, 2002. By April 12, 2002, 210 metric tons of maize had been purchased, delivered, and distributed to 4,280 families. The maize was delivered for distribution to Presbyterian Congregations. The food distribution was monitored and went to all people in need regardless of religious affiliation. The maize was delivered to two areas in the Karonga district (Nyungwe and Kaporo), three areas in the Mzimba district (Emfeni, Luwelezi, Kakahalajino), two areas in the Chitipa district (Kameme, Chisinga), and two areas in the Rumphi district (Mzokota and Mombwe).
God is great!!! On Monday April 8, 2002, we had only an additional $23,490.00 to wire transfer for famine relief. Short $26,510 to reach the $100,000.00 capacity goal. By Friday, April 12, 2002, I was able to tell Jim McGill we would wire transfer the second $50,000 on Monday, April 15, 2002.
With the help of so many wonderful giving people we have been able to reach the capacity goal of $100,000.00. How wonderful and special that is!!!!! What a difference all of our efforts have made - and will make. In conversation with Jim McGill today he tells me the large famine relief organizations are getting into place and the immediate famine crisis is easing.
Although, the famine crisis is not over - nor will it be for some time, Marion Medical Mission has done what it can to help with the immediate famine crisis. Now, the midterm famine problem needs to be addressed in order to keep starvation from returning. To address the midterm famine crisis in Malawi we suggest you send your famine relief money to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance…Central Receiving
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Section 300
Louisville KY 40289For project: #9-2000158
and designate your relief money for the Synod of Livingstonia, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. See their WEB page at
http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/africa/malawirpt-1002.htmfor more information or details on how to donate to them.
Know that development is the long-term cure for famine. Development provides a way for people to get up off their knees - it can free them. Immediate famine relief, though it must be provided, does the opposite. It is a handout and handouts keep people on their knees. The $50,000 Marion Medical Mission sent on March 21, 2002, was undesignated money that would have been used for development in Malawi. In a sense, we "ate our seed corn". Can you help us replace the undesignated development money we sent so we can continue to help the Malawian people help themselves?
We have 400 shallow wells to build this fall. We have received designated funds for 59 wells as of this date!Tom Logan
Marion Medical Mission
tommylogan@aol.com
NOW BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL FAMINE STORY - WITH MODIFICATIONS
The harvest of maize in Malawi in 2001 was at least 30% below the year before due to excessive rains. The heavy rains washed away much of the fertilizer and in some cases the entire crops. Now that the food harvested last year has run out and the new harvest is not due until May or June 2002, people are starving.
Marion Medical Mission has already sent $50,000 from undesignated funds to provide much needed aid, but much more can still be used. There is aid coming from other sources as well, including the Presbyterian Churches in the USA, Canada and Scotland.
Marion Medical Mission can provide immediate help for famine relief in the North through the Synod of Livingstonia Church of Central Africa Presbyterian. This is because Marion Medical Mission has a bank account in Mzuzu, Malawi (the location of the Synod's office).
The relief money MMM receives will be used for the direct purchase of food and the cost of transporting that food to the areas the Synod has identified as the hardest hit by the famine.
MMM can wire transfer funds so that within 48 hours the funds are available to purchase maize and provide transportation for that maize. The account provides a way to easily monitor the relief funds received, what has been disbursed for maize and transportation of maize, and what is still needed
You can donate through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (see address in Update above) where the money will be sent to Malawi to provide food aid. Just be sure to designate the correct project number. You can also donate to Marion Medical Mission to help replenish the 'Undesignated Funds' which were used to provide immediate famine relief. This will allow MMM to continue with their ongoing development projects. Like all other donations to MMM, there are no overhead or administrative costs taken out of your donation - it all goes to it's designated purpose. Also, your donation is tax deductable.
Some reports that have been received about the situation:
February 27th newspaper in Lilongwe said that 70% of the population are experiencing hunger problems. "They have no food and no means to buy food. In some areas people are feeding themselves by digging roots and eating leaves, sometimes with disastrous consequences for their health."
Mr. Mtonga, Head Master for the Embangweni School for the Hard Of Hearing, said in an email dated March 14, 2002: "…You might have heard of the famine that has struck the whole country. It is serious and pathetic to experience. It is our hope that this term will finish. But am not sure of opening for a second term from 15 April to sometime July because there is no food…." Marion Medical Mission feels the children are less likely to starve at school than at home in their villages.
Rev. Isaac Gondwe, a pastor that those who have been to Malawi know, states in a letter dated February 10, 2002: "Those having not found food or husks (corn cobs) to eat, go for steeling now. People here old and young are now been badly swollen and they die of malnutrition. Nothing to do apart from dying. My clothes which I have been wearing are just too big now. They need a strong belt. I am dying - my people are dying. In a letter to Dr. Ernest Brown Rev. Gondwe dated February 15, 2002 writes: 2 to 3 people in every 10 have their legs, face swollen due to their acute food shortage…people are swelling, dying…No mercy about this we are dying. Lord please help us."
Mr. Sangster Nkhandwe, The Synod Livingstonia Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Development Department Co-ordinator, is in charge of the food relief for the Synod. In an email dated March 20, 2002, he says: "Indeed, the food situation is worse in many parts of the country including the north. Elangeni congregation - Rev. Gondwe's congregation is worst hit - in December, 2001, 73% of the households did not have food.""You will be pleased to hear that the first consignment of 10mt of maize has already been delivered to Rev. Gondwe's congregation to be distributed to the starving families."
JOHANNESBURG, 12 March (IRIN) - Delivery delays, adverse weather, low production levels and high maize prices continue to contribute to rising hunger levels in southern Africa, say researchers and aid organisations. .... The food crisis has been severe in Malawi, where the government declared a national emergency at the end of February. FEWS NET said while maize production in the country was expected increase by 16 percent this year, "the crop is threatened by premature harvesting as a result of the current food security situation". ... "(The situation) is even more critical than last year, when there was only flooding in some pockets of the country. Now the problem is more generalised and more people are affected. There has also been a minimal level of assistance to the affected," he added.
From a situation update from the PCUSA Disaster Assistance department:
Malawi is facing a severe food shortage as a result of the poor 2001 harvest due to the excessive rains and floods. The harvest period in Malawi normally starts from the period May to June. This year, it is feared most people will harvest their crops prematurely, a factor which may further perpetuate a food shortage in the country.
Officials have warned that 70 percent of the country's 10 million people are at risk of starvation. The rural areas where the majority of people are dependent on subsistence agriculture have been the most affected. Most people in the rural areas do not have adequate income to purchase the little food available on the market - this has forced many households to stay without food for long periods of time. Thousands of children are reported to be malnourished and in need of therapeutic feeding. Efforts to bring food from South Africa have been frustrated by serious regional transportation problems.
Links to other sources of information:
