HARARE The UN has revised Zimbabwes humanitarian appeal for 2010 by more than 20 percent, citing underlying vulnerabilities necessitating urgent support for the countrys health, food aid and agricultural sectors. (Pictured: Vegetable oil from the USA Zimbabwe has largely depended on food a
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a mid-year review conducted by donors last Wednesday identified significant increases in requirements for the health, food and agriculture clusters.
The extension of food aid activities to the end of 2010 accounted for the largest increase of humanitarian requirements after the initial provision was to cover the period up to April 2010. Revised requirements thus amount to US$578,399,290. This is an
increase of some $100 million (or 20%) over the original requirements, OCHA said.
The mid-year review, carried out at the UN headquarters in New York, came amid revelations that only a third of Zimbabwes consolidated appeal for 2010 had been met by donors.
OCHA said the review was part of a process in which humanitarian aid organizations working in protracted humanitarian crises come together to revise their response plans in support of affected countries relief programmes.
Zimbabwes 2010 humanitarian appeal has received few takers, with US$162 million or just 28 percent of the US$578 million asked for so far funded by donors.
The lukewarm support prompted the UN humanitarian wing to issue a passionate plea for assistance in March, urging vigilance among the donor community to avoid a relapse of Zimbabwes situation to the problems triggered by the decade-long collapse of the countrys social services.
Zimbabwe has been plagued by widespread humanitarian suffering in recent years, driven in part by long-running political strife.
When the appeal was launched in December 2009, some six million people in the country did not have access to safe water and sanitation due to the erosion of basic services.
Livelihoods were also threatened by a prolonged economic downturn. The humanitarian crisis has since worsened, with outbreaks of measles, cholera and typhoid reported in parts of the country.
Post published in: News