Red Cross compiles hunger database

15 May, 2016 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday News

Richard Muponde Gwanda Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Red Cross working in conjunction with the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC) is recording cases of food security in some parts of the country with an aim to use the data to seek funding for drought relief from some European countries. The team was in Gwanda last Wednesday. Gwanda is one of the most affected districts in terms of food security, following the El Nino weather patttern which has resulted in the Government declaring a state of national disaster.

NLRC spokesperson Ms Merlijn Stoffels said the purpose of their visit was to get evidence of increased food insecurity in the country to scale up drought mitigation efforts.

“The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has launched Emergency Appeals totalling 3,2 million Swiss francs in Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Emergency operations will soon be launched in Mozambique and operations in Zimbabwe are being scaled up to reflect the increasing needs.

“Activities are focused on providing immediate lifesaving interventions, largely through cash transfers,” said Ms Stoffels.

He said since May 2015 the southern region has been experiencing an intense drought that has been worsening resulting in more people in need of food aid.

“The most recent rainfall season has been the driest in more than three decades.

“It’s a weather phenomenon which is not only affecting crops but livestock which are dying in large numbers. With a potential La Nina weather event also on the horizon, the current food security is one which will likely continue well into next year,” he said.

Ms Stofels said considering the crisis was going to last for many months there was need for a large scale and long term help.

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