GOVERNEMNT is doing all it can to ensure that the hunger in some parts of the country is addressed, Vice-President Inonge Wina has said. Mrs Wina said it is Government’s responsibility to ensure that citizens are protected in good and bad times, adding that no-one will die of hunger despite the prevailing situation. She said this in a statement issued yesterday by Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice-President Stephen Mwansa.

O n T h u r s d a y, B r i t i s h H i g h Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane-Dyet and United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema urged Government to consider declaring the hunger situation in the country an emergency to attract more support from the international community.

Mr Hichilema has also called for concerted efforts in mobilising resources for relief food in hunger-stricken areas. “Government is fully aware of the current hunger situation in some parts of the country arising from extreme droughts and floods. The situation requires urgent and special attention.

Government and its partners are working round the clock to address the situation,” she said. Mrs Wina said every decision taken by Government is and will always be in the best interest of citizens and that the hunger situation is not an exception. She said stakeholders calling for the declaration of the hunger situation as a disaster should be mindful of the other issues to consider before such a decision is made. Mrs Wina said concerns raised by various stakeholders on the matter will be taken on board and that a decision of national interest will be made.

She commended members of the public for being patient and for having confidence in her office during the trying time. Last week, Mrs Wina said the number of districts that have been hit by hunger have increased from 38 to 87.

She said 49 districts that have been added on the list of those set to receive relief food will start collecting it (relief food) next month to March next year. Mrs Wina said all the 87 affected districts will receive assistance from the Disaster Management and Mitigation (DMMU) through their wards.