Zim gets US$2.2m to avert hunger

Chengetai Murimwa

The Canadian government has given Zimbabwe US$2.2m in response to increased food insecurity in the country.

The funds were channelled through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The funds will ensure more than 55,000 people in Matobo district have adequate food supplies.

Canadian Ambassador René Cremonese announced the contribution.

“Canada is standing with the people of Zimbabwe in addressing food insecurity by providing CAD$3 million (US$2.2m) to the WFP to help 55,000 people in Matobo district, in addition the CAD$1 million provided early in 2019,” Cremonese said.

Canada’s contribution comes at a crucial time when WFP is working to provide 4.1 million people in Zimbabwe with emergency food assistance amid the country’s ongoing hunger crisis.

Currently, more than 7.7 million people – or half of Zimbabwe’s population – is food insecure, and US$104 million is still required for WFP to provide people with life-saving food assistance during the peak of this year’s lean season and in the wake of poor harvests through until June 2020.

Ambassador Cremonese and WFP Representative and Country Director Eddie Rowe this week visited Chipinge  to meet some of the families receiving food assistance from WFP thanks to Canada’s support.


 Rowe said: “WFP would like to thank the Government of Canada for its continued commitment to the people of Zimbabwe. WFP is seriously concerned about the hunger that millions of Zimbabweans are enduring – and the very real prospect that their plight will get worse before it gets better. This support from Canada will go a long way towards improving the well-being of food insecure people, particularly children and women.”

He added that WFP was helping to improve the self-sufficiency of vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe.

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