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WFP aid arrives

    JOHANNESBURG

    The first consignment of food aid arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) told IRIN.

    "The first three trucks of food for WFP's Zimbabwe emergency arrived yesterday (Wednesday) by road. A total of 102 mt," Brenda Barton from WFP's regional office in Nairobi said on Thursday.

    Barton noted that the food being brought into Zimbabwe was maize meal, a staple food for many Zimbabweans.

    "Overall 5,200 mt of maize meal is to be moved over the coming weeks, followed by 600 mt of beans, groundnuts and 110 mt of vegetable oil," she added.

    Barton said that the food was purchased in South Africa using US $1.8 million from WFP's emergency credit reserve. "For the first 1-2 weeks, an average of 150 mt will be delivered each day (five days a week) with a total of 750 mt a week. Transport deliveries will gradually increase," Barton added.

    "The trucks are being loaded in Klerksdorp, South Africa. The first trucks will go to WFP's warehouse in Bulawayo, where the priority needs are and after to Chiredzi and Bindura warehouses," said Barton.

    Barton added that distribution of the food would start "as early as possible" in February in "priority areas" when WFP's non-governmental organisation partners on the ground were ready and once the registration of beneficiaries had been completed.

    WFP has appealed for US $60 million to feed some 558,000 Zimbabweans for a year.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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