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(TALKZIMBABWE) Red Cross launches Zimbabwe food aid appeal

Red Cross launches Zimbabwe food aid appeal
By: Floyd Nkomo
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:18 pm

THE International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched an urgent appeal for funding in response to a "looming new hunger crisis in Zimbabwe".

"Some 2.8 million Zimbabweans - almost a third of the population - are in need of food aid, and the number is expected to rise as a result of a widespread drought," said the humanitarian agency..

Masvingo, a province in the centre of the country, is reported to have parched fields full of dead or dying maize.

The Red Cross has set up feeding programmes to try to support the most vulnerable, but a lack of funding means only limited help.

It is facing a shortfall of $23.9m (£15.9m) for its programmes in Zimbabwe, which include home care for those infected by HIV.

Hunger is also said to be impacting the efforts to provide anti-retroviral treatment to the sick because the medication has to be taken on a full stomach.

"We have seen people default on their treatment because the drugs are too toxic without food," Emma Kundishora, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Red Cross (ZRCS), said.

Once people do this, their situation deteriorates incredibly quickly, added Kundishora.

In December 2009, the ZRCS and the IFRC extended their emergency food operation until October 2010, calling on donors for 38.4 million Swiss francs (US$ 33.2 million).

"Right now, the situation is already critical — more than 2 million people need direct humanitarian support," said Dr. Stephen Omollo, the IFRC representative in Zimbabwe. "And we know that this will get worse as the upcoming harvest already appears to have failed."

Farmers organizations forecast local corn harvests this year of some 500,000 tons, with annual consumption estimated at about 1.8 million tons.


AFRICAN FOOD CRISIS

The total projected demand for agribusiness financing required in Africa from now till 2050 stands at $620.4 billion, just as the annual demand is put at $6.5 billion.

Funding globally from various sources had been declining over the years. Official Development Assistance [ODA] to sub-Sahara Africa’s agriculture dropped from $1.450 billion in 1998 to $713 million in 2002.

Africa’s food import bills stand between US$2 billion and 20 billion per annum in addition to the continent’s $2 billion annual food aid. These huge financial resources being expended could be used internally to develop Africa’s Agricultural potential.

If the continent fails to address the problem associated with agriculture, there could be impending food crisis in the continent.

Labels: FOOD, RED CROSS, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 6:59 AM