UN warns 1 million Zimbabweans set to face struggle for food
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Nov 21, 2011, 13:42 GMT
Harare – More than 1 million Zimbabweans may struggle to feed themselves in
the coming months, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Monday, noting a
poor harvest in several areas of the country.
Zimbabwe has just entered its rainy season which will last until March. The
local economy is still suffering from years of mismanagement and the global
downturn is also hindering growth.
‘Most at risk are low-income families hit by failed harvests, and households
with orphans and vulnerable children,’ said the UN’s WFP.
‘Although food is generally available in many rural areas, it is too
expensive for those with limited resources,’ the agency said in a statement,
which called for foreign donors to give 42 million dollars for food aid to
Zimbabwe.
The southern African country, once renowned as a regional breadbasket,
started receiving food aid in 2001, a year after the government launched a
takeover of white-owned farms that was widely condemned abroad.
The coming months are also expected to see some political turmoil, as the
coalition between President Robert Mugabe and former opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai shows signs of wear.