The Union Against Hunger (UAH) in South Africa (SA), says they will be picketing outside the Department of Agriculture on Thursday, demanding for a national food and security plan to be put in place.
UAH and the Healthy Living Alliance, together with other leading civil society organisations in the country including Socio-Economic Rights Institute, Abahlali baseMjondolo, Treatment Action Campaign , Amandla.mobi and labour movements in SA, held a press briefing in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, to announce their plans for World Hunger Day Campaign observed on the May 28.
SA is facing a deepening hunger and nutrition crisis as food prices soar.
Furthermore, millions of unemployed and low-income households cannot afford a nutritious diet in the southern African nation.
Social grants remain far below the food poverty line, condemning families to hunger and indignity.
Mark Heywood, Human rights and social justice activist and co founder of UAH says the state has failed to prevent malnutrition in children in the country.
“There can be no excuse for 30 children dying a day. And it is nothing. And it is nothing other than state failure. It’s not difficult to identify malnourished children, to identify families with malnourished. It’s entirely possible.“
Heywood says they will be picketing outside the Department of Agriculture on Thursday and will be demanding for a national food and security plan to be put in place.
–Channel Africa–
