EC gives more food aid

The European Commission (EC) announced in Brussels on Tuesday that it has allocated a further Euro 35 million (US $34,3 million) for victims of food shortages in Zimbabwe. The funds would mainly be used to distribute food to the poorest families and other vulnerable groups in the most seriously affected districts of the country, a statement said. The main component of the assistance, managed by the Commission's EuropeAid Co-operation Office, is being provided as a specific contribution for Zimbabwe after the Regional Emergency Operation (EMOP) recently launched for the region by the World Food Programme (WFP). In July the WFP launched an appeal for US $507 million amid warnings that 12.8 million people face food shortages in Southern Africa. Up to six million of these people are in Zimbabwe - half of the country's population. As food stocks start running low, the organisation and NGOs are warning that there will be breaks in the food pipeline if donations don't come in urgently. Poul Nielson, the EC Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, said: "Direct food aid is urgently needed on top of our well established longer-term action to improve food security and prevent widespread starvation. "The Commission remains ready to take further measures in fighting this crisis, both in Zimbabwe and in the region. However, the government also has a responsibility to help ensure that aid gets to those that need it. The government can also take measures to ensure that the private sector can play its role in bringing food to the market." The EC allocation would fund the purchase of around 90,000 mt of maize (worth US $31,3 million). It will be purchased, where possible, in the region. WFP is organising the procurement, transport and delivery of the foodstuffs, which are scheduled to start reaching people in September. This is in addition to the 18,250 mt of food (worth US $10.2 million) already allocated to the previous WFP EMOP in Zimbabwe since April 2002 and which started to reach the population at the beginning of July, the statement said. Another component of the programme (worth around US $2.4 million) is the delivery of seeds and other agricultural inputs to small farmers, who have been the most affected by the drought. This will help farmers to prepare for the next agricultural season due to start between October and November 2002. These inputs would be distributed by NGOs. This component may also include food aid for very vulnerable groups like children, pregnant and lactating women and families directly affected by HIV/AIDS. The rest would fund technical assistance to ensure closer monitoring of the food aid and seed distribution. Meanwhile, discussions continue over the delivery of a consignment of genetically modified (GM) grain from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Zimbabwe turned away a USAID consignment of GM food earlier this year but this consignment, which arrived in Durban, South Africa, last week, has reportedly been accepted. However, the conditions of delivery are still being finalised as Zimbabwe has a ban on GM food. The country has previously expressed concern over the possibility that whole grain could be replanted, and that acceptance of GM food could adversely affect its exports to the European Union, which has strict controls on GM food.