The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Japanese government has availed more than $1 million that will benefit at least 130 000 families across the country that are in drought and flood prone areas.Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Toshiyuki Iwado announced the fund on Thursday in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North where he visited some of the families that were affected by floods last year.
He said the fund was set to benefit women and children who are the most affected during floods and drought.
“Women in rural areas play a vital role in growing as well as cooking for their families. The children are the ones that are going to inherit Zimbabwe in the future. Therefore it is essential to ensure that the needs of rural women and children are met,” he said.
The fund is set to enhance the resilience of drought and flood affected communities in Zimbabwe such as Tsholotsho by supporting programmes in health, nutrition, food security and water and sanitation.
The project is being implemented by Unicef, World Food Programme in collaboration with the Government and will include the rehabilitation of boreholes and training of people on safe preparation of food and management of diseases.
In Mt Darwin, in addition to these activities, WFP is implementing Food Assistance for Assets programmes in selected communities which build resilience against future shocks. WFP representative and country director Mr Eddie Rowe said the availability of water will aid in the sustaining of households.
“When completed, the weir dams, nutrition gardens and other projects will help households to generate income and reduce reliance on food assistance. Access to clean and safe water is essential for food and nutrition security. We cannot achieve zero hunger unless we invest in water and sanitation and hygiene,” he said.
In addition, food and nutrition support is being provided to pregnant women at maternity waiting homes in Tsholotsho, Bubi, Umguza, Lupane, Hwange, Binga and Nkayi.
The assistance provides them with an incentive to give birth in hospitals where they can receive obstetric care and support for a safe delivery by trained staff, thus helping to reduce instances of maternal and child mortality.
The project supported by the Japanese government is set to run until March 2019, and further funding is required to continue the support and increase impact.
