WFP director appeals for funding

Herald Reporter
The World Food Programme executive director Ms Ertharin Cousin has appealed for funding to help vulnerable and hunger-stricken people in Zimbabwe.
Ms Cousin said the organisation was financially constrained and was asking for help from traditional and new donors. “We are asking for help to continue programmes of assisting vulnerable people to reduce physical and mental stunting,” she said.

She had visited Zimbabwe to engage Government and donors on the challenges the organisation was facing in carrying out its humanitarian programmes. “To date, we support 1,8 million people and due to challenges, several of our programmes are underfunded,” said Ms Cousin. “We will have to cut the number of beneficiaries and also reduce the rations.

“We run programmes to address stunted growth in children due to malnutrition, support small holder farmers in value addition of their produce, but these have been underfunded.”

Ms Cousin urged governments and the international community to continue assisting the vulnerable and provide means for communities to build resilience.

Ms Cousin, who had earlier visited Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital where she met patients, including those living with HIV said she was impressed by what she saw at the hospital.

She said the success rate of people staying on drugs was 80 percent, but could get to 90 percent when patients combine drugs with food.

“We are committed not to just feeding stomachs with more nutritious food, but also to providing the tools that will ultimately give those we serve the opportunity to feed themselves and their children,” she said.