In an effort to arrest worsening humanitarian conditions in Zimbabwe, the United Nations is seeking additional funds to support relief efforts through to the end of the year.
The request is a revision of the Consolidated Appeal launched last July, which focuses on strengthening social service delivery, to support the country’s recovery and tackle HIV/Aids.
The total of $95,4-million in funding requirements for 2003 to the end of 2004 includes $31,1-million requested by local and international NGOs. So far only $10,5-million in contributions has been received since the inital appeal was launched last year.
“The review and update specifically focuses on strengthening the delivery of basic social services, HIV/Aids and recovery to reverse the downward humanitarian trend in the country.
“The main objective in this regard is to prevent loss of life. This will be achieved by striving to meet minimum standards in delivering public health, water and sanitation and reversing the effects of HIV/Aids,” UN resident humanitarian coordinator Victor Angelo said in a foreword to the appeal.
The country’s weakening economy is seen as one of key reasons for deteriorating social conditions. Inflation in Zimbabwe reached more than 500% at the begining of the year and more than 60% of the labour force is out of work.
The rapidly declining economy means that public services are seriously underfunded and often do not meet minimum standards, the appeal noted.
“The quality of and access to social services, in particular health and education, has further deteriorated due to funding and capacity constraints, resulting in critical shortages of health workers and teachers, as well as a lack of medical and learning supplies. Water and sanitation systems’ capacity and quality, both in rural and urban areas, are also increasingly inadequate,” the appeal said.
There is also concern that the 2004 harvest will be insufficient to ensure national food security — with an estimated five million Zimbabweans dependent on food aid and other social safety schemes over the coming months.
“In consultation with the UN humanitarian coordinator, the government will consider making a separate appeal for general food aid once additional information on the performance of the current crop is available,” the appeal said.
HIV/Aids continues to be an overriding concern for the humanitarian community. Recent estimates indicated that about 25% of Zimbabwe’s sexually active population is infected with HIV.
“Death and sickness are crippling the society, and profoundly undermining recovery prospects. The magnitude of this tragedy is depleting households as well as local and national public service capacity,” the appeal noted.
Another area of concern is the living conditions in new resettlement areas, particularly with respect to former farm workers.
Former farm workers find themselves without access to income, land or social services, while new settlers are arriving and competing for increasing scarce resources, the appeal noted.
The UN has requested authorisation to conduct a humanitarian assessment in these areas in order to determine vulnerability and subsequently planning for the delivery of needed humanitarian assistance.
One of the main priorities of humanitarian agencies until year-end is improving the targeting of food distribution to the most vulnerable. Activities will include the provision of basic food rations, supplementary feeding for children under five, and therapeutic feeding.
Targeted food aid programmes are also expected to bring much-needed relief to the urban population. The latest assessment estimated that almost 2,5-million people in high-density urban areas are vulnerable, due to food insecurity and lack of access to basic services. — Irin