GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) – A dispute over genetically modified
food could halt aid distributions in Zambia, where 2.4 million people
face starvation, says a United Nations agency.
World Food Program executive director James Morris said Zambia was
alone among six drought-hit southern African countries to refuse some
form of GM food aid.
Nearly 13 million people in six countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland,
Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique – face starvation due to drought and
disease, which have devastated crops, WFP said.
It has appealed for $507 million US to buy one million tonnes of food
aid.
“Zambia has said it won’t permit use of biotech-GM food for food relief
for people who are starving through this crisis. The other five
countries have said, ‘it’s OK, we’ll accept it.’ ” Morris said.
“I’m terribly worried about the issue in Zambia. There is no way WFP
can provide the resources to feed these starving people without using
food that has some biotech content.”
