The United Nations has pledged support for a drought relief programme running from April this year until March 2017, a UN representative has said.
Speaking during a joint UN-USAID Media brief on Drought Response in the capital, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDO resident Representative Bishow Parajuli said the UN is committed to support drought stricken areas in the country.
“Owing to the unprecedented El Nino induced drought during the 2015/16 agricultural season, the number of drought affected people has almost doubled from 1, 5 million to 2,8million.
“Therefore we have managed to raise almost half the money required for the relief programme and we are working on the remaining amount.
‘In scaling up the drought response, and again with generous support, we have developed a Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) to map out the immediate needs of the most vulnerable population.” Parajuli said.
He said the UN and USAID will continue to work closely in Zimbabwe in order to make sure that there is adequate supply of food aid.
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The HNO programme aims at targeting those vulnerable people with the greatest needs, regardless of their political affiliation and will be done transparently.
“ We aim to start with those people in the hardest hit districts as well as pockets of vulnerable areas including urban areas and vulnerable groups such as children and women, people living with HIV and migrants.”
He also said of the required $ 360 million in the response plan, approximately $70 million has thus far been received and an additional $ 20million has been received by WFP. He said this amount will go a long way in supporting drought response.
The UN estimates the number of people in need of aid to increase from approximately 30% in April 2016 to 49% (approximately 4,5milion people) during the peak of the lean from January to March 2017.
He alluded to the fact that the relief programme in Zimbabwe, just like anywhere else in the world, is guided by the four principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
Speaking at the same event, Eddie Rowe, who is the World Food Programme Country Director and Representative, said the WFP will soon be rolling out the School Feeding Scheme which is part of the emergence response plan.
“The WFP will be rolling out a school feeding scheme in conjunction with the government of Zimbabwe,
“This programme will enable kids to stay in school and provide them with nutritious food and a hot meal. By doing this, we are providing technical support to the government.”
