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Lungile Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
UNITED Nations in Zimbabwe and its developmental partners has disbursed more than $400 000 to rural communities through cash transfers to needy families in Masvingo Province, as part of their efforts to avert hunger and poverty.
In meeting their pledge to help the Government address the devastating effects of the El Nino induced drought, UN and its developmental partners have been disbursing money through EcoCash where an average of $35 was given per household.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Bishow Parajuli said the move to embark on cash transfers was part of their drought relief and resilience building mechanism.
“The cash transfer relief assistance undertaken through EcoCash in certain wards in the drought hit Chiredzi District such as Chikovo are transforming the lives of the communities, building resilience, while also giving long lasting connectivity among far to reach rural households,” he said.
He added that they were looking at scaling up efforts to reach more people in need and commended donors for their support.
In partnership with Plan International, UN has managed to reach 11 500 beneficiaries per ward, each receiving on average of $35 per household through EcoCash to meet the average daily calorie requirements (2 100 Calories) which is the measure of the amount of energy in food.
Mr Parajuli said the money which communities have received would empower families in coming up with drought adaptation and mitigating measures.
This latest development come at a time when UN revealed that it has availed $190 million in the last five months to address the effects of drought as latest figures show that the number of people in need of food aid has doubled from two million to 4,1 million. Mr Parajuli said the UN had reached 1,5 million in need of food with the mobilised resources.
Bongani Ndlovu