National disaster declared
Monday 29 March 2004
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SWAZILAND: National disaster declared

JOHANNESBURG, 23 February (PLUSNEWS) - Swaziland Prime Minister Themba Dlamini has declared a national disaster as a result of the triple threat of drought, poverty and HIV/AIDS.

The combination of AIDS, drought and poverty has created a "serious humanitarian crisis" in the country, he said. "All these have reinforced negative effects that have created a web of extreme vulnerability, reinforced by the collapse of family structures."

The UN World Food Programme's (WFP) emergency co-ordinator in Swaziland, Sarah Laughton, said an estimated one in five people were in need of food aid, and added that WFP was pleased the government had linked the food crisis to HIV/AIDS.

[ENDS]

MORE NEWS BRIEFS
   

Recent SWAZILAND Reports
AIDS stats must be seen in context, say authorities,  25/Mar/04
Seven-point plan to fight HIV/AIDS,  25/Mar/04
World's highest rate of HIV infection,  19/Mar/04
Unregulated ARVs cause health havoc,  5/Mar/04
Army to introduce compulsory HIV testing,  3/Feb/04

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