MATSAPHA – World Vision’s Regional Leader for Southern Africa, Matthew Pickard, visited Eswatini last week to assess ongoing food relief efforts in communities affected by climate change. His visit included a stop at a food distribution site under the Lobamba Lomdzala Area Programme in Matsapha.
Pickard was joined by National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) CEO Victor Mahlalela, World Vision Eswatini (WVE) National Director Tinah Mukunda, WVE Operations Director Sakhile Dlamini, and Humanitarian Emergency Affairs Manager Zakhele Dlamini.
The distribution included rice donated by World Vision Taiwan and beans and cooking oil provided by the Government of Eswatini through the NDMA. The NDMA also covered the cost of transporting the rice from Taiwan. 
Frequent extreme weather, including hailstorms, flooding, and strong winds, has disrupted local food production, especially maize. This has deepened hunger and malnutrition in vulnerable households.
