The United Nations has launched a Flash Appeal, calling for $429.3 million in funding to provide essential food assistance to over three million Zimbabweans who are grappling with severe hunger caused by the devastating El Niño-induced drought.
Southern Africa has been ravaged by the effects of this drought, leaving an estimated 7.6 million people in Zimbabwe facing acute food shortages and in urgent need of intervention.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, UN Resident Coordinator Edward Kallon emphasized that the estimated maize production for the 2024 crop season is only around 700,000 metric tonnes, a far cry from the annual requirement of 2.2 million metric tonnes. Additionally, more than 1.4 million cattle are at risk of deteriorating conditions and starvation due to the scarcity of food and pasture.
To address this alarming scenario, the Flash Appeal seeks $429.3 million in humanitarian funding, enabling aid organizations to assist nearly 3.1 million people who are most vulnerable to food insecurity.
Kallon stressed the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat the growing impact of the global climate crisis on Zimbabwe. He emphasized the importance of building resilience across the country, addressing inequality, and reducing poverty, as outlined in the National Resilience Strategy.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the drought a state of national disaster and urgently appealed for $2 billion to feed the food-insecure population.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube informed the joint Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance and Industry and Commerce that the government has been compelled to reallocate funds within the 2024 National Budget to cover food imports and prevent widespread hunger.
The situation in Zimbabwe demands immediate action and international support to alleviate the suffering caused by the ongoing drought and ensure the well-being of millions of vulnerable individuals.
