<p>Communities in&nbsp;Madagascar&nbsp;are on the verge of starvation, with women and children walking for hours to reach food after the worst drought in four decades devastated the south of the island, the World Food Programme said.</p>

<p>Acute malnutrition has almost doubled over the last four months, the WFP said, with more than a quarter of people suffering in one area.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/humanitarian-disaster-clay-quelling-hunger-in-famine-hit-madagascar-348659">Humanitarian disaster: Clay quelling hunger in famine-hit Madagascar</a></strong></p>

<p>"I met women and children who were holding on for dear life, they'd walked for hours to get to our food distribution points," David Beasley, WFP executive director, said in a statement.</p>

<p>"There have been back-to-back droughts in&nbsp;Madagascar&nbsp;which have pushed communities right to the very edge of starvation. Families are suffering and people are already dying from severe hunger," he added. Beasley blamed climate change for the crisis.</p>

<p>WFP said $78.6 million was needed to fight the crisis.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-sand-eaters-of-madagascar-348681/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"Families have been living on raw red cactus fruits, wild leaves and locusts for months now," Beasley said.</p>

<p>Bole, a mother of three from Ambiriky,&nbsp;in southern&nbsp;Madagascar, who also is caring for two orphans after their mother died, told the agency that to survive they relied on cactus leaves for their meals.</p>

<p>"We have nothing left. Their mother is dead and my husband is dead. What do you want me to say? Our life is all about looking for cactus leaves again and again to survive," she said.</p>


Communities in Madagascar are on the verge of starvation, with women and children walking for hours to reach food after the worst drought in four decades devastated the south of the island, the World Food Programme said.

Communities in Madagascar are on the verge of starvation, with women and children walking for hours to reach food after the worst drought in four decades devastated the south of the island, the World Food Programme said. Acute malnutrition has almost doubled over the last four months, the WFP said, with more than a quarter of people suffering in one area. Also read | Humanitarian disaster: Clay quelling hunger in famine-hit Madagascar "I met women and children who were holding on for dear life, they'd walked for hours to get to our food distribution points," David Beasley, WFP executive director, said in a statement. "There have been back-to-back droughts in Madagascar which have pushed communities right to the very edge of starvation. Families are suffering and people are already dying from severe hunger," he added. Beasley blamed climate change for the crisis. WFP said $78.6 million was needed to fight the crisis. "Families have been living on raw red cactus fruits, wild leaves and locusts for months now," Beasley said. Bole, a mother of three from Ambiriky, in southern Madagascar, who also is caring for two orphans after their mother died, told the agency that to survive they relied on cactus leaves for their meals. "We have nothing left. Their mother is dead and my husband is dead. What do you want me to say? Our life is all about looking for cactus leaves again and again to survive," she said.

Madagascar communities on verge of starvation after drought: World Food Programme

<p>Indian Ambassador in Madagascar Abhay Kumar on Monday expressed his solidarity with people facing drought situation in South of Madagascar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kumar called on Foreign Minister of Madagascar Tehindrazanarivelo and expressed his concern over the drought situation in the southern part of Madagascar. He also discussed issues of mutual interest of both the countries with him.</p>

<p>Ambassador Abhay Kumar met the Foreign Minister @Tehindrazanari1 today to express solidarity with the drought situation in South of Madagascar and discussed issues of mutual interest between #India and #Madagascar, India in Madagascar and Comoros wrote in a tweet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ambassador Abhay Kumar met the Foreign Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/Tehindrazanari1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tehindrazanari1</a> today to express solidarity with the drought situation in South of Madagascar and discussed issues of mutual interest between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madagascar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Madagascar</a>. <a href="https://t.co/CohiFzALvs">pic.twitter.com/CohiFzALvs</a></p>
— India in Madagascar &amp; Comoros (@IndembTana) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndembTana/status/1338421894131953664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Earlier in the month of November, India and Madagascar were going to sign several pacts to enhance ties between the two counties.</p>

<p>"MoUs in the field of traditional medicine, health, culture, tourism, telemedicine and tele-education among others are under discussion," according to sources.</p>

<p>President Ram Nath Kovind visited Madagascar in 2018 on a state visit during which a defence cooperation agreement was signed.</p>

<p>Madagascar has a strong Indian diaspora mostly from Gujarat. Over 20,000 Indians play a key role in the trade and economy of Madagascar.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Ambassador in Madagascar Abhay Kumar on Monday expressed his solidarity with people facing drought situation in South of Madagascar. Kumar called on Foreign Minister of Madagascar Tehindrazanarivelo and expressed his concern over the drought situation in the southern part of Madagascar.

Indian Ambassador in Madagascar Abhay Kumar on Monday expressed his solidarity with people facing drought situation in South of Madagascar. Kumar called on Foreign Minister of Madagascar Tehindrazanarivelo and expressed his concern over the drought situation in the southern part of Madagascar. He also discussed issues of mutual interest of both the countries with him. Ambassador Abhay Kumar met the Foreign Minister @Tehindrazanari1 today to express solidarity with the drought situation in South of Madagascar and discussed issues of mutual interest between #India and #Madagascar, India in Madagascar and Comoros wrote in a tweet. Ambassador Abhay Kumar met the Foreign Minister @Tehindrazanari1 today to express solidarity with the drought situation in South of Madagascar and discussed issues of mutual interest between #India and #Madagascar. pic.twitter.com/CohiFzALvs — India in Madagascar & Comoros (@IndembTana) December 14, 2020 × Earlier in the month of November, India and Madagascar were going to sign several pacts to enhance ties between the two counties. "MoUs in the field of traditional medicine, health, culture, tourism, telemedicine and tele-education among others are under discussion," according to sources. President Ram Nath Kovind visited Madagascar in 2018 on a state visit during which a defence cooperation agreement was signed. Madagascar has a strong Indian diaspora mostly from Gujarat. Over 20,000 Indians play a key role in the trade and economy of Madagascar. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar expresses solidarity with people facing drought in Madagascar

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Madagascar communities on verge of starvation after drought: World Food Programme

Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar expresses solidarity with people facing drought in Madagascar