The Southern Africa Partnership of Red Cross Societies is holding urgent talks in Johannesburg to discuss the effects and long-term impact of the drought in the SADC region and how this will impact on food security for millions of people.

The newly elected Chairperson for the region Mrs Mandisa Kalako-Williams, President of the South African Red Cross Society stated that “Two-thirds of all countries suffering from food insecurity are in Africa. If present trends continue, there will be 300 million chronically undernourished people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2010 – we are very concerned and need to ensure that we prepare ourselves and our neighbouring countries for this looming crisis due to the drought”.

Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are tackling food security as one of the key commitments made by National Societies in Africa as well as making HIV programmes a top priority by scaling up the response on the continent.

Kalako-Williams assumed the responsibility for the Partnering societies and takes over from Mr McBain Kanongodza, Secretary General of the Malawi Red Cross Society.

It was also recently announced that The South African Red Cross Society will host the next Pan-African Conference in South Africa in September 2008. This event will attract key role-players of 700 participants, including representatives from all 53 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa as well as the International Federation and International Red Cross and Red Crescent Committee members. Delegations and representatives of UN agencies, governments, non-governmental humanitarian organisations, Pan African organisations (AU, NEPAD) and private sector partners will also be streaming into Johannesburg for this important happening wherein issues of food security, health of vulnerable people and HIV & Aids will be on the top of the agenda.