CHIVI, ZIMBABWE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's food security situation is worrisome, amid the late onset of the 2024/2025 rainfall season, United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Country Director Barbara Clemens has said.
Speaking to journalists at a food aid distribution event Thursday in Chivi District, Masvingo Province, Clemens called for stronger resource mobilization to meet current needs and mitigate the impact of future climate shocks.
"We are heading into our lean season, and we are receiving less rainfall than we had anticipated, so the problem could exacerbate crop yields in the coming harvest season," she said.
The WFP is looking at raising resources to increase its African Risk Capacity insurance premiums for drought mitigation in Zimbabwe, Clemens said. "We are viewing these climatic insurance policies as a huge tool in our anticipatory action toolbox to be able to leverage so that we can start early," she said.
Clemens said WFP Zimbabwe has received only 50 million U.S. dollars, out of the 201 million dollars they require, to respond to Zimbabwe's El Nino-induced drought.
"We are extremely worried," she said.
The WFP aims to provide emergency food aid to about 1 million people across Zimbabwe during the lean season, from December to March next year.
Zimbabwe is still grappling with the effects of the El Nino-induced drought in the 2023/2024 farming season.
According to the government, at least 7.6 million Zimbabweans are facing food insecurity and require food aid until March next year. ■
