Warning of severe hunger in Zimbabwe until next harvest
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) has
warned of severe food shortages in most parts of Zimbabwe over the next four
months as the southern African country runs out of reserves of the staple
maize crop.
The US-funded FEWSNET said in its latest Zimbabwe Food Security Outlook
published Sunday that the most likely food security scenario in Zimbabwe was
“a deterioration of food security status across a greater part of the
country with the exception of the central area which is traditionally a
grain surplus region”.
“An increased number of people in other parts of the country are likely to
become moderately food insecure throughout the lean season and outlook
period from October 2010 to March 2011,” the early warning system warned.
It however said planned humanitarian and government food assistance
programmes are likely to stop further deterioration of the crisis and
prevent widespread starvation in the country.
More than 900,000 Zimbabweans are estimated to require food aid until the
end of the year and the number could rise by over 40 percent to about 1.3
million people before the next harvest in March 2011.
JN/daj/APA
2010-11-07