The Indian Ocean island state has been experiencing the world’s first-ever climate change induced famine that has left people literally starving to death.

According to the World Food Programme, the drought has affected almost half of all children under 5 with chronic malnutrition and is considered one of the major public health concerns in Madagascar.

The costs associated with child undernutrition represents 14.5 percent of the country’s GDP.

“The Grand Sud region (the south of the island) has been struck by back-to-back droughts during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 rainy seasons. This has had a disastrous impact on agriculture and forced people to resort to desperate survival measures, such as eating locusts, raw red cactus fruits or wild leaves,” noted the WFP report.

International media have even discovered cases of people boiling shoe and belt leather to provide a meal to themselves and their families.

The gut-wrenching footage and images made headlines as world leaders recently gathered for the international climate change conference, COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss ways of reducing the environmental impact on the earth.

As a South African based NGO, Salaam Foundation has taken a bold step to get involved directly in what many view as a distant problem unrelated to the challenges in the country. They have put together a plan to send through at least one shipping container of food essentials to Madagascar as Phase one of their project.

“We have activated our volunteer core and supporting organisations,” said director Fatima Sookharia.

“Flour, oil, pasta and rice are amongst the list of items required. This is just the beginning. Our partners on the ground have also requested water wells and irrigation equipment to restart the agricultural sector for sustainable help.”

While emergency food is in dire need the organisation has set up a twofold strategy that involves activities across South Africa.

“Firstly we want communities in South Africa to do something practical in the fight to preserve our own environment. Every effort goes a long way in changing the world. We want people to go out and clean their parks, streets, communities or a beach. Plant a tree of a small veggie garden. Even just picking up the litter outside our home or school will help. Climate change is real and we all can play a role,” added Sookharia.

The second initiative will take place on December 4, where pop-up stands are expected to happen in various communities countrywide with a popcorn theme. The proceeds from these registered stalls will go towards the funding of the emergency food relief programme and extended food sustainability project.

“We call on young and old to #MoveIt”. Today it is Madagascar and tomorrow it will be another place and sooner or later it will be our home. We must unite for better earth for the sake of our children and generations to come,” said the Salaam Foundation director.

To register a pop-up, email fatima@salaamfoundation.com

Donations can be made HERE or contact the organisation on 072 122 8400.