WFP: Food Crisis Deteriorating in Zimbabwe
Tatenda Gumbo
17.09.2012
The United Nations World Food Program says it is closely monitoring the
crippling drought situation in Zimbabwe and lobbying stakeholders for the
provision of food and other resources to the affected families.
Officials said Zimbabwe has pledged 35,000 tonnes of maize and the WFP is
working with other organizations to secure additional aid.
Close to 1.6 million people will need food aid by March next year.
The food aid ogranization reported the dire situation in late July saying
the drought was and will continue to cripple the most vulnerable.
The assessment indicated that the number of people in need of food aid is 60
percent higher than the one million that needed assistance during the last
lean season.
WFP pinpointed erratic rainfall and dry spells, limited access to
agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizer, a reduction in the planted
hectarage, poor farming practices and inadequate crop diversification as key
reasons hunger would peak this season.
The worst affected regions are Matabeleland, Midlands, Masvingo and
Manicaland.
United Nations WFP Zimbabwe country director Felix Bamezon told VOA the
food situation is deteriorating.