Summary: May 8, 2002: EU grants EUR 6.5 million in food aid to people in Zimbabwe (Brussels)
The European Commission has approved food aid worth €6.5 million for the population of Zimbabwe. This decision is designed to ensure that some of those in need have access to minimum food supplies in the coming months. This assistance will fund the purchase of 8,070 tons of maize, 1,500 tons of pulses (beans) if possible at the regional level and 600 tons of vegetable oil. This food will be distributed among the poorest families in 19 districts of the country severely affected by food
shortages due to climatic problems faced in 2001 as well as the worst economic crisis Zimbabwe has ever faced. This initiative constitutes the contribution of the Commission to the emergency programme launched by the World Food Programme (WFP) in late 2001, as a consequence of the deterioration of the food security situation in the country.
With an estimated initial target population of 558,000 people for the overall programme, this contribution will provide relief to those households that have become even more exposed to the risk of food insecurity after the recent drought of 2002 which has affected maize production in many southern African countries. The distribution of food will be carried out by the WFP in collaboration with local authorities and NGOs, while the monitoring of the field operations will be ensured jointly by the
WFP and the European Commission. WFP will ensure the procurement, transport and delivery of the foodstuffs. The food is scheduled to reach the Zimbabwean populations within the next weeks.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page