TAOLAGNARO — U.S. Ambassador Robert T. Yamate announced an additional $4.3 million in emergency food assistance to help families affected by drought in Madagascar.  This new funding provided by the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will help vulnerable families in the south and southeast of Madagascar. The U.S. government is the largest food donor in Madagascar, providing over $39 million to Madagascar families affected by drought since 2015.

Ambassador Yamate made the announcement at warehouses that had recently received the majority of a 1,870 metric ton shipment of sorghum, destined to feed hungry families in the south.  This shipment is part of a previous commitment of emergency food relief by the American government that is being distributed by Catholic Relief Services.

“This sorghum is a visible demonstration of the U.S. government’s commitment to stand by the people of Southern Madagascar in their time of need,” declared Ambassador Yamate. “For the past four years, we have brought food and farming relief to families. And as we are here today with this new sorghum, I am pleased to announce that the U.S government will provide an additional $4.3 million to ensure the continued health and well-being of the Malagasy people.” 

The additional contribution of $4.3 million will enable the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food assistance and nutritional support to 263,000 people in five southern and south-eastern regions. WFP will also work with the National Nutrition Office and local partners to monitor and treat malnutrition.

The 1870 metric tons of sorghum will help maintain the health of 60,000 people in over 12,000 households in the five districts most affected by drought. This activity, carried out by Catholic Relief Services, complements agricultural fair and food-for-work activities, also funded by USAID through its Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, which provide agricultural tools and seeds so that farmers can replant during the rainy season. USAID’s programs also benefit Malagasy communities by buying locally available fresh produce, which supports local agriculture and boosts the local economies during the difficult lean season.

Ambassador Yamate was joined by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Tovondriaka Rakotobe, for a ceremonial handover of the newly arrived sorghum from the American people to the Malagasy people. This is one of many emergency food shipments the U.S. government has funded since 2015 to provide drought-affected Malagasy households with the food they need to maintain good health and nutrition until conditions enable them to harvest their own crops.

Ambassador Yamate thanked the Government of Madagascar as well as implementing partners Catholic Relief Services and WFP for their support and collaboration in making the delivery of emergency relief programs possible.

“The larger community will benefit from becoming re-introduced to cooking and eating sorghum. We hope this may encourage communities to consider planting and growing sorghum over other crops like maize, which require more water and are less drought resistant.”

USAID has provided assistance to the Malagasy population for 33 years through programs that improve health, save lives and strengthen food security.