Economic crisis compounds food shortages

Zimbabweans continue to face a particularly severe humanitarian crisis, with nearly half the population having had their livelihoods eroded by severe macroeconomic decline and precarious food security, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "What began as a food crisis in Zimbabwe in 2002 has grown into a major humanitarian emergency, with people suffering the effects of a deteriorating economy, HIV/AIDS, depleted social services and policy constraints," OCHA said in an appeal to donors. The organisation noted that "as the country enters its fifth successive year of economic decline, Zimbabwe faces critical shortages of foreign exchange to maintain essential infrastructure, and inflation has soared". Inflation reached 526 percent in October, according to figures issued on Tuesday by the state's Central Statistical Office (CSO). Compared with prices in October a year ago, the cost of living went up 525.8 percent, against September's annual rate of 456 percent, the South African Press Association reported. The Humanitarian Appeal 2004 for Zimbabwe is based on plans by UN Agencies and partner NGOs, to respond to the humanitarian crisis by concentrating on three main areas: firstly, to prevent loss of life through food, nutrition, and critical health interventions; and secondly, to mitigate the impact of the crisis on vulnerable groups by supporting household livelihoods and basic services, and addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS. The third aim is to develop a productive dialogue among humanitarian stakeholders to strengthen co-ordination, in order to protect the most vulnerable. "The HIV/AIDS pandemic is central to the crisis. Recent estimates indicate that around 34 per cent of Zimbabwe's 15 to 40 age group is infected, and more than 2,500 people die every week of AIDS-related causes," OCHA said. Compounding the crisis is a steady decline in the delivery of health, education, social and public services due to a lack of finance, and the loss of human resources to emigration and AIDS. "One result is that malaria, tuberculosis and cholera cases are on the rise. Another result is that Zimbabweans face a severe food security crisis in 2003-04. An estimated 5.5 million people will require food aid during the coming year. The country has enough food to feed its population for just four to five months," OCHA said. In the Consolidated Appeal for Zimbabwe, agencies request US $109.4 million to meet outstanding funding requirements.