HARARE Zimbabwe is one of the top five underfunded humanitarian appeals for 2010 amid indications that donors have largely continued shunning the politically volatile southern African country.UN agencies and their humanitarian partners have requested a total of US$478 million to support those in need in Zimbabwe in 2010
With just over a month to go before the end of the year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said only US$223 million had found takers as of November 11.
Only the appeal for food assistance, estimated at the beginning of the year at US$138 million, was significantly supported by donors, with 96 percent of the funding covered as of last week.
According to OCHA, Zimbabwe is ranked fourth among the underfunded appeals, after the Central African Republic, Pakistan and Guatemala.
Uganda completes the group of top five underfunded humanitarian appeals.
The UN is expected to launch the 2011 humanitarian appeal at the end of November or in early December.
Relief agencies say Zimbabwes overall humanitarian situation remains acute despite the flicker of hope caused by Februarys formation of a coalition government by President Robert Mugabe and arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai.
A substantial number of Zimbabweans are said to require food aid this year while the infrastructure for delivering basic social services is in serious need of rehabilitation.
High vulnerability levels, coupled with one of the world’s highest HIV infection rates of 15.6 percent, deepen the population’s vulnerability.
Post published in: Africa News