Food and Medicine Shortages Threaten Madagascar

Catholic Relief Services
Thursday, 11 April 2002

Four months after contested elections effectively divided the island nation of Madagascar, shortages of food and medicine threaten the most vulnerable members of the population, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) reported today. Critical fuel shortages and road blockades have added to the burgeoning inflation and made transport of needed staples and vaccines nearly impossible.

"We are facing an emergency that the world seems not to have noticed," said Jennifer Overton, CRS Country Representative for Madagascar. "The people of Madagascar are being held hostage in what has become a contest of wills. Unfortunately, the result is that people are suffering and some will die if this situation is not resolved."

Many of the country's 2200 health centers have been unable to offer proper vaccination and preventive health care. Lack of fuel for the refrigeration and transport of drugs, particularly antibiotics and antimalarials, could lead to a doubling of the already high (approximately 16 percent) child mortality rate. Road blockages are preventing farmers from selling their harvest and are keeping food out of urban areas, hurting the rural economy and increasing the prospect of malnutrition in coming months.

"Demonstrations have been largely peaceful, so those who are in the most immediate danger are not the protesters, but women and young children – for the people at risk, the issue right now is not political, it is one of survival," Overton noted.

Official election results indicated neither candidate won outright and that a runoff was needed. Declaring fraud, hundreds of thousands staged a monthlong peaceful protest in support of opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana. With negotiations stalled, Ravalomanana declared himself president, named a cabinet and set up a government in the capital city of Antananarivo. Supporters of incumbent president Didier Ratsiraka subsequently established a rival capital at the port city of Tamatave and blockaded Antananarivo in an attempt to cripple the city's economy. In recent days, bridges leading to the capital have been blown up, further exacerbating the current situation.

Madagascar, located off the southeast coast of Africa, is the fourth largest island in the world and home to nearly 16 million people. CRS has operated in Madagascar since 1962, with programs across the island focusing on maternal health and child survival.

Catholic Relief Services is the official relief and development agency of the United States Catholic community. Founded in 1943, the agency provides assistance to people in more than 80 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org