HARARE, Zimbabwe – The World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing to provide emergency food assistance to 270,000 Zimbabweans over the next three months, bracing for a potentially devastating harvest season crippled by an El Nino-induced drought.
This comes as Zimbabwe, already grappling with food insecurity since 2000, faces another year of hardship. The country’s staple maize harvest is expected to plummet by half to 1.1 million tons in 2024, according to the government’s own forecast.
El Nino, a climate phenomenon causing abnormally warm Pacific waters and disrupting global weather patterns, is the primary culprit behind the anticipated meager harvest. Zimbabwe is not alone in facing this El Nino-fueled challenge, with other regional countries also bracing for the impact on their agricultural yields.
To address the looming food crisis, Zimbabwe is collaborating with aid agencies to reach an estimated 2.7 million people struggling with food insecurity. WFP, which has been a mainstay of humanitarian assistance in Zimbabwe for decades, will be focusing its efforts on 270,000 individuals located in the southern region, where the drought’s impact is projected to be most severe.
“Out of the 2.7 million people, we jointly planned to assist the most vulnerable. WFP will be assisting communities in four districts where populations are more vulnerable with a slightly more comprehensive package,” explained Christine Mendes, WFP’s acting country director, to Reuters.
Mendes outlined WFP’s $39 million budget for its Zimbabwean humanitarian programs, including food assistance over the next six months. However, the program currently faces a significant funding gap, with only 40% of the required resources secured so far.
“We have to work hard to secure funding resources to meet that shortfall,” Mendes emphasized.
Due to funding constraints, WFP will prioritize distributing essentials like maize grain, beans, and cooking oil to the most vulnerable communities.