Aid pipeline saved but "situation still alarming" - WFP

A US $28 million cash injection has rescued the World Food Programme's (WFP) aid pipeline in Zimbabwe. The WPF said in a statement that the donation from the European Commission (EC) "could not have come at a more critical time". "Without [the donation], food aid supplies for Zimbabwe would have run out by the end of this month. This contribution will enable us to fast-track a regional purchase of about 60,000 mt of maize," WFP Zimbabwe Country Director, Kevin Farrell, was quoted as saying. Last year the EC and European Union member states donated about 40 percent of all contributions raised for Zimbabwe. "Thanks to the generous and timely response by donors such as the European Commission, WFP was able to avert widespread starvation last season," Farrel said. However, he warned that "the food security situation in Zimbabwe remains alarming, and without continued international support, a significant proportion of the population will remain at serious risk". A recent joint assessment by WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organisation found that about 3.3 million Zimbabweans are currently in urgent need of food aid. By January 2004, that number is expected to jump to 5.5 million. "People are increasingly showing up at rural food distributions, begging to receive food aid, but due to scarce resources, WFP is forced to restrict its rations to the most vulnerable, many of whom live in households affected by HIV/AIDS," WFP said. As further evidence of the desperate situation in Zimbabwe, at some distribution sites "beneficiaries have been seen opening and eating uncooked rations on the spot", the organisation said. In August WFP plans to feed 1.4 million people in rural areas and is looking to expand its programme in urban areas, "where food shortages have become acute".