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WFP Appeals For $250M to Ease Zimbabwe's 'Dire Situation' Food Crisis

Columbus Mavhunga

   HARARE - The United Nations World Food Program is appealing for an
   additional $250 million in emergency aid to help millions of
   Zimbabweans at risk of starvation. The WFP says the COVID-19 pandemic
   is worsening an already severe hunger crisis in the southern African
   nation.

   Hopely farm about 20 kilometers north of Harare's central business
   district is one of the poorest residential areas in Zimbabwe's capital.
   People here largely depend on informal employment, which has dried up
   since the Zimbabwe government imposed a lockdown in late March to fight
   the coronavirus pandemic.

   The situation was made worse by the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed earlier
   this month, according to the World Food Program.

   One of those affected is 52-year-old Aleck Mugopa, who looks after his
   six children. Since the beginning of the lockdown, he said, there are
   times when the family has gone without a decent meal.

   He saidit's now really difficult, especially here in Harare, as we are
   not working. We have no source of livelihood. So my children are
   starving, he said.

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