UN mobilises urgent food aid, support for Zimbabwe
THE United Nations (UN) has pledged to mobilise global support and resources to augment Government’s efforts to feed thousands of food insecure people in Manicaland and the nation at large to cushion them from the devastating El Nino-induced drought which ravaged the 2023/24 agricultural season.
In an interview on the sidelines of a courtesy call to Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza last Friday, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator to Zimbabwe, Mr Edward Kallon, said there is urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the humanitarian situation in the country.
The motive behind Mr Kallon’s visit was to have a first-hand account of the impact of the El Nino-induced drought to enable the UN to mobilise resources to support and compliment Government’s efforts to feed the nation following the recent declaration of the state of national disaster by President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa earlier this month invoked Section 27 (1) of the Civil Protection Act to declare a state of national disaster.
The President said at least 2.7 million people are expected to be food insecure.
“The current agricultural season of 2023 to 2024 has not performed according to expectations due to the El Nino-induced drought. As a result, more than 80 percent of our country received below normal rainfall,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa said the country needs US$2 billion in aid to help millions of people who are food insecure after a severe dry spell wreaked havoc across southern Africa.
“President Mnangagwa has declared a national disaster and requested for US$2 billion so that the country is able to cover the deficit, and people at national level are working
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