Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
MORE than 4,3 million Zimbabweans are food insecure and at least US$130 million is needed to mobilise food for the needy, the World Food Programme (WFP) has said.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) which was prepared by WFP, the number of acutely food insecure Zimbabweans has risen to 4,3 million from 3,8 million at the end of last year.
“With most Zimbabweans already struggling to put food on the table, the Covid-19 pandemic risks even wider and deeper desperation. We must do our utmost to prevent this tragedy turning into a catastrophe,” said WFP country director Mr Eddie Rowe.
The organisation said US$130 million was required to sustain the needy until August. WFP said this month, it was planning to assist 4,1 million in Zimbabwe although insufficient funding has prevented it from achieving its monthly target since the turn of the year. In March, it reached out to 3,7 million of the most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe instead of the 4,1 million target.
“The US$130 million being urgently sought by WFP is part of a total assistance requirement of US$472 million to be used to December. Most of Zimbabwe’s food is produced by subsistence farmers dependent on a single, increasingly unreliable rainy season,” said the WFP.
Covid-19 also has been noted as a threat that will exacerbate Zimbabwe’s dire economic situation.
Online Reporter