Emergency Food Relief in Zimbabwe

Project Summary

Aim:

To save lives by feeding 73,000 vulnerable people in Chiredzi District

Region:

Chiredzi district

Project Duration:

FY2004 to FY2010

Total Public Funds Required:

AU$120,000

Millions of Zimbabweans have been left with little to eat following the collapse of food production in their country. Orphans, the elderly, the disabled, single-parent families and those affected by HIV and AIDS are particularly at risk. Fortunately, during these difficult times, Plan works with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to provide emergency food and ensure it is distributed to those in need through its Vulnerable Group Feeding priority project.

Make a donation to Plan's Vulnerable Group Feeding Program in Zimbabwe.

Why emergency food relief is a priority

Poor rainfall combined with prolonged economic decline has adversely affected agriculture in Zimbabwe, particularly over the past two years. Most families struggle to survive and international aid has been important to provide food relief to the most vulnerable, especially during the peak of the ‘hungry season’ during January to March when grain stores from the previous harvest have been eaten. While agricultural production during FY2010 is expected to improve, shortage of seeds, fertiliser and other farm resources means that national food production is predicted to provide only about 60 per cent of grains to meet Zimbabwe’s food needs.

What is being done

Plan and the World Food Program (WFP) are again preparing to provide basic food supplies to vulnerable adults and children, particularly people living with HIV and AIDS, orphans and the elderly living in Chiredzi district. The district is drought-prone and many rural families have already sold or bartered their goats and cattle for food. As a result an estimated 34 per cent of the population are expected to be food insecure during most of FY2010.

The WFP ships basic foods (mostly maize, beans and vegetable oil) to Africa and trucks it to land-locked Zimbabwe. Then non-government organisations (NGOs) like Plan distribute the food to those in need. Handling and distributing such large quantities of food is costly and labour intensive. People must be employed to deliver the food to distribution points and then monitor that it actually reaches the most food insecure.

What has been achieved so far

Plan has been working in partnership with the WFP distributing food to vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe since 2002. Between October 2008 and March 2009, Plan distributed 8865 metric tonnes of food to 209,574 people in Chiredzi (60 per cent were children under 18 years). In June and July 2009, Plan worked with the WFP and communities to collect information that helped determine the people to be assisted and the quantities of food to be distributed. Distribution of food relief is expected to commence in Chiredzi in October 2009.  

What needs to be done this year?

In FY2010, Plan in Australia, in partnership with the WFP, Plan Zimbabwe and communities in Chiredzi will distribute food to the most vulnerable children and adults. Distribution involves:

• Identification and registration of the most food-insecure children and adults in Chiredzi district.

• Managing storage and distribution of WFP food at a warehouse.

• Managing and delivering food to distribution points where it is allocated to community members identified as the most food insecure.

• Recruiting, training and supervising short-term project staff to work with community groups and leaders to ensure that food reaches those in need. 

Funding opportunity

In FY2010, Plan in Australia needs to raise AU$120,000 from the Australian public.

Make a donation to Plan's Vulnerable Group Feeding Program in Zimbabwe.