The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General is alarmed that the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe
is now desperate and will worsen in the coming months. He is deeply
concerned that nearly half of the total population of 12 million could
require food assistance, and by reports that many households are now cutting
back the number of meals eaten each day. He is distressed at the collapse of
health, sanitation and education services, and the consequent rapidly
escalating cholera outbreak. The Secretary-General urges all parties to
support and provide humanitarian assistance, leaving political
considerations aside.
The Secretary-General supports the humanitarian initiative on Zimbabwe
offered by The Elders and regrets the decision of the Government of Zimbabwe
not to cooperate with their timely, well-intended effort to assist the
people of Zimbabwe. The Secretary-General hopes that another mission can
take place in the near future, given the rapidly deteriorating situation in
the country.
The Secretary-General calls on the Zimbabwean parties meeting in South
Africa today to rapidly reach an agreement on the formation of a new
Government consistent with the letter and spirit of the 15 September
agreement. The people of Zimbabwe cannot afford another failure by their
political leadership to reach a fair and workable agreement that would allow
Zimbabwe to tackle the formidable challenges ahead.
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