Humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe critical: Holmes

The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating and will continue to worsen through 2008 and into 2009.

According to the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, it is estimated that up to 3.8 million people would be food insecure between now and the end of the year.During the peak of the hunger season in January-March 2009, nearly half of the population of 12 million would require food assistance, meaning over five million people. People affected by the fast-track land reform programmes, eviction campaigns and violence are among the most vulnerable population.

John Holmes says there is a very large resource gap and aid is needed now, and that although almost half of a year of humanitarian service delivery was lost, there is still time to avert increased human suffering.

Challenges include critical shortages of all basic services, including food security, clean water, health services, education, and the so-called brain drain. The crisis affects both rural and urban areas.

Critical needs exist for aid to emergency agriculture and emergency education.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the window of opportunity for the first planting season is very narrow — an estimated five to six weeks and all pledges must urgently be turned into actual contributions.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.