Burundi needs food aid and development, say agencies
-30/03/06
As the food crisis in A
Burundi needs food aid and development, say agencies
-30/03/06
As the food crisis in Africa continues to loom large, UK-based international aid agency Christian Aid says that its partners have distributed 130 tonnes of bean seeds to more than 10,000 families in response to shortages in northern Burundi.
The Episcopal Church in Burundi and the Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi, distributed seeds to people in areas most affected by food shortages.
The hand-outs are being accompanied the United Nationsí provision of food rations, tools and fertiliser. Development agencies, both religious and secular, stress that long term solutions lie in changes to the international food, trade and financial systems ñ but in the meantime, assistance is vital.
Christian Aidís programme manager in Burundi, Jean Marie Bashale, said the rations were of 13kg of beans but he added: ìEverywhere we saw the same phenomena. Each beneficiary shared their allocation of seeds with their neighbours.î
Due to drought and plant disease, everyone is in need of seeds to plant this season. ìWe have been immensely impressed by this spontaneous inter-community solidarity,î said Mr Bashale.
For a country which has suffered years of civil war, based in part on inter-ethnic violence, this spontaneous solidarity may be a mark of reconciliation and progression towards peace.
It is thought that thanks to this generosity more than 14,000 households had received seeds last week. The work continues.
Burundi needs food aid and development, say agencies
-30/03/06
As the food crisis in Africa continues to loom large, UK-based international aid agency Christian Aid says that its partners have distributed 130 tonnes of bean seeds to more than 10,000 families in response to shortages in northern Burundi.
The Episcopal Church in Burundi and the Union of Baptist Churches in Burundi, distributed seeds to people in areas most affected by food shortages.
The hand-outs are being accompanied the United Nationsí provision of food rations, tools and fertiliser. Development agencies, both religious and secular, stress that long term solutions lie in changes to the international food, trade and financial systems ñ but in the meantime, assistance is vital.
Christian Aidís programme manager in Burundi, Jean Marie Bashale, said the rations were of 13kg of beans but he added: ìEverywhere we saw the same phenomena. Each beneficiary shared their allocation of seeds with their neighbours.î
Due to drought and plant disease, everyone is in need of seeds to plant this season. ìWe have been immensely impressed by this spontaneous inter-community solidarity,î said Mr Bashale.
For a country which has suffered years of civil war, based in part on inter-ethnic violence, this spontaneous solidarity may be a mark of reconciliation and progression towards peace.
It is thought that thanks to this generosity more than 14,000 households had received seeds last week. The work continues.