THE United States government yesterday donated $10 million towards addressing food shortages in Zimbabwe.
STAFF WRITER
In a statement, the United States Press Department said the money was donated through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to complement another $15 million worth of food assistance already provided by the US government since the beginning of this year.
“The US government through the US Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace has provided an additional $10 million to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to support humanitarian food needs in Zimbabwe during the October to March hunger season,” the statement read.
“WFP will use this contribution to purchase cereals, pulses and oil, as well as to provide direct cash transfers to beneficiaries where food is available in local markets.
“In anticipation of humanitarian food needs for the 2013-2014 hunger season, USAID had previously contributed in-kind, food, cereal, pulses, and oil valued at approximately $15 million.
In total, the US government has contributed $25 million to WFP for this year’s humanitarian food operation.” The donation is expected to benefit about 1,8 million of the estimated 2,2 million vulnerable people, mostly from the rural areas.
Ironically, the donation comes at time when Zanu PF officials have intensified a campaign against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US.
