Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
THE European Union has released 3,9 million euros to complement Government efforts at mobilising food aid for drought relief. Zimbabwe is in dire need of maize grain as poor rains affected the harvest this season.
In a statement yesterday, Save the Children Country Director Mr Brian Hunter said: “The European Union has provided 3,5 million euros humanitarian funds to the organisation Save the Children to mitigate the immediate effects of food insecurity in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“It will go to organising cash transfers for 78 000 of the most vulnerable people across eight districts affected by the El Niño phenomenon.”
Mr Hunter said the funds would benefit those seriously affected by drought including Binga and Bubi districts.
“Save the Children will lead in the implementation of a mobile cash transfer and resilience building project, in partnership with three other non-governmental organisations, — Plan, CARE and World Vision — over a four-month period starting from April to July 2016,” he said.
“The implementing agencies will provide an additional 480 000 euros as matching fund to the project, bringing the total investment to 3,9 million euros. The eight districts to be covered are Binga, Kariba, Bubi, Lupane, Nkayi, Gokwe South, Chiredzi and Mutasa.”
For convenience purposes the regional body will introduce mobile cash transfers to vulnerable people including young parents and the elderly.
“The contribution by the European Union will help to alleviate hunger among the most vulnerable households affected by food shortages, who include child-headed households, and the elderly, through provision of money via the mobile cash transfer platform to enable them to purchase food on the local markets,” he said.
“We are faced with an emergency that requires a fast and appropriate response.
“Zimbabweans have been particularly badly hit by El Niño. The most vulnerable people need our humanitarian assistance to cope with the drought today and recover from it tomorrow,” the statement added.
Matabeleland North, Midlands, Masvingo, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South provinces reportedly have the highest prevalence of food insecurity in the country.
Since December, the EU has mobilised 12 million euros to finance emergency actions in Southern African countries affected by drought.