THE Japanese Government has donated USD15, 3 million to Zimbabwe’s drought and flood affected communities.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
This comes as Zimbabwe enters winter while reeling from hunger.
“Japan announces US$ 15, 3 million assistance package for drought- and flood-affected communities in Zimbabwe. This package will be accessed by Zimbabweans through United Nations Agencies.
“The Government of Japan has mobilized a total of more than US$ 15.3 million in emergency
funding to assist the most vulnerable people severely affected by drought and floods in
Zimbabwe through UN agencies, namely the World Food Programme (WFP), the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM),” said the Japanese Embassy in Zimbabwe which added that, ” Recurring droughts and worsening economic conditions have resulted in Zimbabwe currently
facing one of its worst food security crises.”
A latest study showed the country now has 7,7 million food insecure people including the Cyclone Idai Victims.
“A recent nationwide assessment, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), showed that the total number of food insecure people
now stands at 7.7 million, more than half the population, while the number of those who are acutely food insecure stands at 4.3 million. As well as drought, many of the victims of Cyclone Idai which occurred in March 2019 still require support in order to rebuild their lives,” said the Japanese Embassy.
Added the Japanese Embassy, “Given the extent and severity of the current humanitarian crisis, life-saving assistance is urgently needed and Japan has greatly increased its funding.”
Giving a breakdown of this food aid, this funding from the Government of Japan includes USD 14,8 million to provide food assistance to vulnerable populations through the WFP and the Government of Zimbabwe.
“It will enable the purchase and distribution of around 25,615 metric tonnes of maize. It is expected that this will meet the essential food security needs of 512,000 households in rural areas for a period of six months,” said the Japanese Embassy.
Chipping into the HIV and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) response, Japan allocated USD454 545.
“A further US$ 454,545 in funding will provide a comprehensive set of life-saving nutrition,
HIV/AIDS and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions targeting the most vulnerable women and children in the four districts of Binga, Buhera, Chiredzi and Masvingo
through UNICEF. It will include the screening and treatment of children for malnutrition, imparting of healthy coping strategies to people living with and vulnerable to HIV and AIDS,
and provision of clean water and sanitation to 10,000 children at schools,” the Japanese Government said.
Through the IOM, USD96 054 will be for the support of displaced populations affected by Cyclone Idai.
“Finally, Japan has provided US$ 96 054 through IOM to support populations in Manicaland Province who were affected by Cyclone Idai and who are still displaced. It will include the provision of transitional shelters and strengthening of resilience of the displaced people.”
In seeking to improve the human security of the Zimbabwean people, the Government of Japan says it has relied on the experience and expertise of UN agencies to deliver urgent and life-saving assistance for many years.
“It is hoped that in this current humanitarian crisis, the funding
provided by Japan will go a long way towards alleviating hunger and ensuring that the basic needs of the most vulnerable people in Zimbabwe are met,” said the Embassy.
