A UN international aid appeal for Zimbabwe has so far raised US$236 million or just 60 percent of the amount needed to avert a humanitarian crisis in the southern African country, the world body’s emergency relief chief said on Friday.
UN emergency relief coordinator John Holmes said the UN’s Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal for Zimbabwe was currently funded at 60 percent of the US$394 million required for the exercise.
Critically under-funded sectors include emergency agriculture and education while funding in health, water and sanitation also remained low, he said.
This is worrying at a time when the people of Zimbabwe urgently need food, seeds, fertilisers and essential drugs, among so many other priorities, Holmes said.
He called for greater international support for Zimbabwe where an estimated 5.1 million people are in need of food assistance following a poor harvest in the 2007/08 agricultural season.
The Zimbabwe government last month removed a two-month ban on field operations of non-governmental organisations which was imposed in June amid accusations the aid agencies were politicising food aid.
For our part, we will continue close cooperation with the Government of Zimbabwe, regional countries and organizations as well as development partners to support humanitarian efforts and recovery initiatives, he added.
Post published in: News