UN assistant secretary general for human rights Catherine Bragg, who is
heading the mission, said donors had to date provided 17 percent of
US$500 million required to fund humanitarian projects in Zimbabwe and
promised the world body would continue working to mobilise more support
for the southern African country.
The humanitarian needs in the country remain grave, Bragg told a press briefing in Harare.
She said a cholera epidemic that has infected more than 80 000 and
killed more than 4 000 others remained of major concern despite
concerted efforts to curb the outbreak that began last August.
Despite tremendous efforts to contain one of the world's worst cholera
outbreaks in recent times, major challenges remain. There are areas
where there is an increase in number of new infections, said Bragg.
Bragg's team, which has held meetings with President Robert Mugabe and
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, has visited Mashonaland East
provinces where it said it witnessed hunger among villagers. The UN
team said it expected that there would be need for continued food
assistance for the rest of the year.
Demand for food aid traditionally tapers down around April when new
harvests begin but Bragg said it was not the case this year.
She said if the new government did not ensure adequate inputs for the
next planting season beginning next September and October, 2010 could
prove yet another agricultural disaster.
We could end up next year with the same situation like we have today
with seven million people requiring food aid, the UN official said.
Food shortages alongside cholera highlight Zimbabwe's unprecedented
economic and humanitarian crisis that is also seen in the world's
highest inflation of more than 200 million, a burgeoning HIV/AIDS
pandemic, rising unemployment and deepening poverty.
A unity government formed by Tsvangirai and Mugabe more than a week ago
has raised hopes Zimbabwe could finally end years of decline to regain
its former status as a model African economy and regional breadbasket.
Commending the unity government, Bragg said the UN expected it to work to improve the welfare of Zimbabweans.
Analysts say the unity government is the only viable way to extricate
Zimbabwe from its crisis. However, skepticism remains high whether the
new government that under a September power-sharing agreement should
last for about two years can stand deep-seated acrimony between Mugabe
and Tsvangirai. – ZimOnline