United Nations Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, John Holmes, said the
money would be drawn from the United Nations Central Emergency Response
Fund (CERF), and channelled through a number of UN agencies operating
in Zimbabwe.
According to Mr Holmes, Zimbabwe’s fund is part of a US$75 million
humanitarian aid package allocated to fight food shortages, disease and
conflict for 14 countries in Africa and Asia.
Mr Holmes said that the new UN aid would cover food, health and other areas, where Zimbabwe is facing a humanitarian crisis.
The country faces a cholera crisis which has claimed 3,500 lives and
affected 70,000 others, as well as severe food shortages. The UN also
estimates that at least 6.9 million people, more than half the
population, need emergency food aid.
If Zimbabwe is to form the new government by 13 February as an order
from Southern African Development Community, the country has a chance
to recover, though economic experts claim the progress will be slow.
The country has a record inflation of 231 million percent, though other
economists argue it is way beyond what the government claims it to be.
The Central Emergency Response Fund is bankrolled by voluntary
contributions from member states, non-governmental organisations, local
governments, the private sector and individual donors.
The fund was established in 2006 to help agencies respond rapidly to
new or deteriorating humanitarian situations. It is administered by the
United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
afrol News
Post published in: Politics